INFINITI OPEN : SEMIFINAL PITS CHANG AND EDBERG STARS HAVE HISTORY OF TOUGH MATCHES.

Byline: Alan Springer Special to the Daily News

It's a match that will feature a legend trying to win one more against a star trying to win his first.

Michael Chang, the No. 3-ranked player in the world (and the No. 1 seed in the tournament), will be hoping for a chance at his first Infiniti Open title when he meets Stefan Edberg in a semifinal match today at UCLA.

Chang has never lost a semifinal in the tournament, winning in 1989, 1990 and 1993. Edberg beat Chang in the final in 1990 in three sets to capture his only title in L.A. Chang will be appearing in his eighth semifinal in 13 tournament appearances this year.

Chang, playing in his fourth quarterfinal, did exactly what he was supposed to do in his match against Italy's Stefano Pescosolido on Friday, beating him easily 6-2, 6-2.

Chang dominated the match with great serving. He went 13 for 13 on first-serve points and 19 for 22 on second serves. Pescosolido was 13 for 35 for 37 percent on second-serve points.

``It's premature to look ahead in the tournament,'' Chang said. ``I just need to take it day by day and match by match and go from there. I think that my game keeps improving the more that I play.``Stefan and I have had some great matches in the past. We have had a tough rivalry against each other over the years. I love to play against him because I know he will always play his hardest. It's nice to play him again.''

Edberg advanced by taking care of Scott Draper of Australia 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted only 1 hour, 11 minutes. Edberg, who broke Draper's serve four times in the match, appears to be playing better than anyone in the tournament and has yet to lose a set.

Edberg has made an appearance in the semifinals all six times he has competed in this tournament. He has moved on to the final four times.

``I love playing in Los Angeles,'' said Edberg, who has a lifetime record of 23-4 here. ``I can't complain. The weather is great, the courts are nice and I have had nothing but success here.''

This meeting will be the 21st between the two, with Edberg holding the edge 12-8. The two have met four times in California, splitting the victories. Chang has won four of the past five meetings.

The two most memorable matches between them were the 1989 French Open, when Chang beat Edberg in the final 6-3, 6-2, and the semifinals of the 1992 U.S. Open. Edberg won that match 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in five hours and twenty-six minutes, the longest match in U.S. Open history. ``Michael and I have played some memorable matches over the years,'' said Edberg. ``The French Open in 1989 and the marathon at the U.S. Open in 1992 would probably stand out most in my mind. If I play my game, like I did in the past, I hope I can take him down.''

In other matches, Aussie Sandon Stolle beat ex-Stanford star Alex O'Brien 6-4, 6-3 in their quarterfinal match. Stolle, who is the son of former tennis great Fred Stolle, won a remarkable 94 percent of his first-serve points to O'Brien's 63 percent.

``It's difficult playing against my friend,'' said Stolle, who teams with O'Brien in doubles play. ``It's part of our profession. You have to play your friends sometimes. It's good in a way because I know what to expect from him. Well, I guess it's the same for him, too.''

This will be Stolle's third ATP semifinal of the year and his second at the Infiniti Open. In the 1992 semifinal, he was eliminated by Richard Krajicek.

Stolle has had an impressive tournament so far. He defeated Luis Morejon in the first round and eliminated No. 5-seed Jan Siemerink in the second round.

Stolle will play Krajicek who beat Jonas Bjorkman 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Sandon Stolle of Australia hits a backhand volley en route to beating Alex O'Brien in the Infiniti Open.

Associated Press