FRENCH OPEN DAILY REPORT : Feeling 20 Again, Edberg Has Little Trouble With Moya

What figured to be Stefan Edberg’s farewell to the French Open became a farewell to a young Spanish clay-court specialist expected to make short work of Edberg.

On another sunny and hot day at Roland Garros, Edberg defeated Carlos Moya of Spain, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, in a second-round match Thursday. Moya is the only player to have beaten Thomas Muster on clay this season, making him the clear favorite to send the retiring Edberg home.

But the 30-year-old Swede, more comfortable on grass than slow red clay, took advantage of the warm weather and faster court conditions to overwhelm the 19-year-old Moya.

“It was one of those days where everything that you do turns into gold,� Edberg said. “The way I felt today, I felt like I was 20. Obviously, I’m not. But I felt really great out there. I’ve been playing well in the last month or so. Every week has been better on clay.�

Even a great day did not cause Edberg to reconsider retirement.

His next opponent is Michael Chang, who defeated Richard Fromberg, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

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There seems to be no player at the French Open who has not been asked about Mary Pierce’s backless tennis dress. Steffi Graf, who has begun wearing a dress rather than her usual skirt and blouse, was asked about it Thursday.

“Dresses used to be a lot more fashionable many years ago because tennis wasn’t as athletic as it is now,� she said. “Nowadays, it really gets difficult to find a dress that you are comfortable in because you move around so much when you serve and stretch out for shots. It’s difficult to find the right cut and the right material.�

“I prefer to play in a shirt and a skirt, because it’s a lot easier and you feel more comfortable. Mary’s dress looks really nice, but it doesn’t really look like a tennis dress.�