By Dustin Dow and Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - Michael Chang drew a qualifier and Center Court for the beginning of his final tournament in Cincinnati.

Chang, 31, will play Moroccan Hicham Arazi today following the completion of a 1 p.m. match between Wayne Ferreira and James Blake.

Later, Chang will be honored by the tournament on Center Court after the first match of the evening session. That match, involving Fernando Gonzalez and Brian Vahaly begins at 7 p.m.

Defending Western & Southern Financial Group Masters champion Carlos Moya opens the tournament at 11 a.m. on Center Court against Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

American Todd Martin plays in the 7 p.m. match on the Grandstand Court against Argentina's Jose Acasuso. Martin, 33 and ranked No. 108 in the world, is playing fewer tournaments in the latter stages of his career. His best showing this season was at Miami in March, when he reached the quarterfinals. He advanced to the third round at Wimbledon.

"I haven't had the greatest of years on the court," Martin said. "But there have been a few glimmers, and enough to push me toward getting better."

Two afternoon matches on the Grandstand Court precede Martin's match. Greg Rusedski of Great Britain plays Jiri Novak, and Great Britain's Tim Henman takes on Guillermo Coria.

American Robby Ginepri will play Radek Stepanek in the final match on Center Court.

BAD SUMMER: It would be hard to have a worse summer than Robert Kendrick.

The ATP's 122nd-ranked player figured he would relax with some friends at a soccer game before the French Open in June. But he contracted E.coli from a sausage that he ate, postponing his career for a few weeks. Kendrick, 23, was healthy by the time Wimbledon began at the end of the month, but broke a thumb in a doubles match there, sidelining him until this week.

The American got through qualifying and will play Gaston Gaudio in the first round today.

"It's been a frustrating summer, so this win is huge for me," Kendrick said of his 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Jeff Salzenstein Sunday on Center Court.

This is Kendrick's first season playing tour-level singles.

QUALIFYING SCHOOL: Other qualifiers include Austrian Stefan Koubek, South African Wesley Moodie, Australians Scott Draper and Wayne Arthurs, Moroccan Hicham Arazi, Israel's Noam Okun and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

"I've been struggling with my form, so it's nice to get a few matches in going into the U.S. Open," said Arthurs, who is ranked No. 88 in the world.

Koubek is the highest-ranked qualifier at No. 70. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 20 in March 2000.

ENQVIST IMPATIENT: Thomas Enqvist won this tournament just three years ago. Now he needs tournament directors' pity - a wild card - just to get into events like this.

The 29-year-old Swede, who was ranked No. 4 in 1999, is down to No. 110. Previously, Enqvist hadn't been out of the top 100 since 1991.

Enqvist is just 6-20 this year as he tries to regain his form after a shoulder injury last fall.

"I feel like I'm physically back to where I was," he said. "But tennis is a big mental sport."

Enqvist will play No. 17 seed Felix Mantilla.