TENNIS ROUNDUP : Sabatini Advances at Sydney

Top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini returned from a layoff of more than a month and overpowered Manon Bollegraf, 6-0, 6-1, Wednesday in the rain-interrupted second round of the New South Wales Open at Sydney, Australia.

“I’ve been working pretty hard (and) I’m playing good tennis. Physically, I feel very good,” said Sabatini, who was playing in her first match since the Virginia Slims Championships in November.

In other women’s second-round matches at the White City complex, No. 3 Jana Novotna of Czechoslovakia advanced when Patty Fendick injured her right knee after falling behind, 7-6 (7-3), 2-1.

Among the men, defending champion Guy Forget of France, the highest remaining seeded player at No. 3, beat Javier Sanchez of Spain, 6-2, 6-4. He will next play Aaron Krickstein, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 winner over Cristiano Caratti of Italy.

No. 7 Emilio Sanchez of Spain defeated Australia’s John Fitzgerald, 6-4, 6-4, and will play Thomas Muster of Austria, who ousted hometown hero Todd Woodbridge, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

MaliVai Washington, seeded seventh, won his second-round match in the New Zealand Open at Auckland, defeating Shuzo Matsuoka of Japan, 6-3, 6-4.

Michael Chang defeated top-ranked Stefan Edberg, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), in the Rio Challenge six-player round-robin exhibition tournament at Adelaide, Australia.

Edberg was playing his first singles match since being sidelined almost two months ago by knee and wrist injuries. Jim Courier beat Pete Sampras, 6-4, 6-2.