Chang on course to a repeat

Friday, March 14, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Defending champion Michael Chang of Henderson advanced to the quarterfinals of the $2.3 million Champions Cup Thursday by defeating Marc Rosset 6-2, 7-5.

In a match of one of the tour's smallest and tallest players, the 5-foot-9 Chang beat the 6-7 Rosset with his usual steady, tenacious game.

Chang, the third seed, kept Rosset scrambling from side to side, and Rosset, often having to reach and hit off-balance, made 34 unforced errors, 16 more than Chang.

Although Chang dominated, Rosset actually has had the upper hand over him in the past, winning four of their previous six meetings.

"I've had a lot of tough matches with Marc. For some reason, he's able to play some really good tennis against me, overall play pretty solid," Chang said.

Chang, the only American left in the tournament, obviously likes his chances of repeating in the Champions Cup, which he also won in 1992.

"I plan on it," Chang said. "I definitely go out there with the faith that I'm going to be there on Sunday, winning the title."

In another match, Australian Mark Philippoussis downed Carlos Moya, 6-4, 6-3.

In the women's State Farm Evert Cup, which is running concurrently with the men's tournament at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, sixth seed Irina Spirlea bounced back from a first-set loss to beat top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.