Rios Tested by Pioline at Hong Kong Seniors

Marcelo Rios narrowly maintained his perfect senior tour record Friday at the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions stop in Hong Kong, coming from a set down to defeat Cedric Pioline 3-6, 6-0, 10-2 (Champions' tiebreak) to move within one match of qualifying for the final.

The meeting was a rematch of the Doha final where Rios claimed his first senior tour title.

"He played good first set, but I played unbelievably well in the second set and in the Champions' tiereak," Rios said. "It was nice to have that feeling where I'm in a tough match and I still win. When you lose those it doesn't feel so good, but I'm really happy with the way I played."

Other winners Friday were Henri Leconte (d. Mark Kratzmann 6-1, 1-6, 10-6), Mark Woodforde (d. Anders Jarryd 6-4, 1-6, 10-7), and Thomas Muster (d. Pat Cash 6-4, 7-5).

Muster joins Rios as the only undefeated player on the week, and the two will face each other in the final with wins Saturday.

Saturday's line-up in Hong Kong will be Rios vs. Woodforde, Pioline vs. Jarryd, Cash vs. Kratzmann, and Muster vs. Leconte.