Becker Grit Surges to the Surface : French Open: His power attack is too much for clay specialist Chang in quarterfinal.

PARIS — Boris Becker has won tournaments on grass, on hard courts, on carpet and on nearly every other surface this side of a pool table, but there is one notable exception.

It’s the stuff they have here at the French Open--clay, the dusty red stuff that cakes the bottoms of your shoes, dirties your socks and messes up your mind.

Tennis power brokers, such as Becker, aren’t supposed to have much of a chance to win the world’s biggest clay-court tournament.

“If you are good, you can play on grass, on clay, on anything,” said Becker, whose 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Michael Chang on Tuesday set up what looks like the top match of the French Open so far--a semifinal showdown against Andre Agassi, who routed Jakob Hlasek, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

Although Becker might not have been as convincing in his victory as Agassi was in his, his sweep against Chang, a clay-court specialist, said a great deal about Becker’s opportunity to make his first clay-court title coincide with his first French Open crown.

Chang, who waved at Becker’s fifth and final ace as it scooted past his racket on match point, could not help but be impressed.

“Guys like Boris tend to play better and better the longer big tournaments go on,” Chang said. “Once he’s this far in the tournament, it’s difficult to beat them.”

Becker sat on Chang’s second serve, took short balls and came in and took advantage of any chances that rolled his way. He definitely wasn’t the same Becker who needed five sets to beat Todd Woodbridge in the second round.

“Almost perfect, yes,” Becker said of his play against Chang.

Such days, especially on clay, do not happen that often for him, Becker said. Key to the match was his ability to use his strengths and avoid Chang’s.

“He can play there for two days, I cannot,” Becker said. “I knew that my strength is my power. I had to put my power over his legs. That is what happened.”

Agassi played in the first men’s match of the mostly gray day, and it was also the quickest--75 minutes.

It was a frustrating day for Hlasek, who had a difficult time on the court and offered a succinct reply as to how he felt: “Not good.”

At the same time, Agassi was pleased with himself and said he was more capable of winning here a year after losing to Andres Gomez in a disappointing final.

“I am stronger, I’m playing better and moving around better,” Agassi said.

“I feel better prepared to win a Grand Slam this year. If not this year, then maybe next year. Like I said last week, it isn’t my main priority to win here, but I would be very pleased if I did. I am looking down the road and being in a couple of finals is good experience.”

As for Chang’s experience with Becker, well, it wasn’t great. In fact, Becker required all of 31 minutes to win the third set.

“He didn’t miss a whole lot,” Chang said.

“Maybe I’ll get him at Wimbledon this year,” Chang said.