Andre Agassi came from behind against a qualifier for the second time. Thomas Muster had to overcome a twisted ankle.
For Michael Chang, meanwhile, it was business as usual.The fifth-seeded Chang advanced quietly and steadily into the round of 16 at the Australian Open as temperatures climbed today. He said he feels he is gaining on the two top seeds - Pete Sampras and Agassi.
Women's top seed Monica Seles ran into her first patch of difficulty, dropping her serve in the first game with a double fault. She finished by reeling off eight straight games, losing just 12 points in that stretch, in a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Julie Halard-Decugis of France.
Agassi wasted no time reasserting his dominance after losing the first set of his third-round match to qualifier Steve Bryan, a fellow American ranked 225th. He won 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1.
Muster, seeded third and in contention for the top spot in the rankings, twisted his right ankle while backpedaling for a deep shot midway through the second set. He had it taped, saved three set points in a marathon second set, and beat Swedish qualifier Nicklas Kulti 6-4, 7-6 (11-9), 6-4.
Chang, the only one of the top five seeds to win all his matches in straight sets so far, defeated hard-hitting Frenchman Guillaume Raoux 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6). Raoux made the final set tight with sizzling sharp angles and deft drops, but couldn't match Chang's steadiness.
In women's matches, No. 3 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario beat Sandra Cacic 6-3, 6-3; No. 6 Gabriela Sabatini routed Karin Kschwendt 6-1, 6-2; No. 7 Iva Majoli trounced Alexandra Fusai 6-2, 6-1; No. 9 Mary Joe Fernandez eased past Nicole Arendt 6-1, 6-1; No. 13 Chanda Rubin defeated Laurence Courtois 6-0, 6-2; and No. 15 Naoko Sawamatsu beat Japanese compatriot Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-0.
Defending champion Agassi needed five sets Monday to beat qualifier Gaston Etlis of Argentina, although he was hampered then by a swollen knee from a crash into a post on a spiral stairway the previous night. The knee has mended.