Michael Chang

Michael Chang
Michael Chang.jpg
Country  United States
Residence Orange County, California, USA
Date of birth February 22, 1972 (1972-02-22) (age 38)
Place of birth Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st)
Turned pro 1988
Retired 2003
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money

$19,145,632

  • 10th All-time leader in earnings
Int. Tennis HOF 2008 (member page)
Singles
Career record 662–312 (68% at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles 34
Highest ranking 2 (September 9, 1996)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open F (1996)
French Open W (1989)
Wimbledon QF (1994)
US Open F (1996)
Doubles
Career record 11–33 (25% at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles 0
Highest ranking 199 (April 19, 1993)
Last updated on: N/A.

Michael Te-Pei Chang (traditional Chinese: 張德培; pinyin: Zhāng Dépéi; born February 22, 1972, in Hoboken, New Jersey) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17.

Known for his on-court speed and fighting spirit, Chang is considered by many observers to have been one of the best tennis counterpunchers of all time. He remained in the Top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at World No. 2.

Chang was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.[1]

Contents

Tennis career

Chang first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player who set numerous "youngest-ever" records. He won his first national title, the USTA Junior Hard Court singles, at the age of 12. Aged 13, he won the Fiesta Bowl 16s. Two years later, aged 15, Chang won the USTA Boys 18s Hardcourts and the Boys 18s Nationals, and became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open when he defeated Paul McNamee in four sets in the first round. A month later he reached the semifinals at Scottsdale, Arizona to become the youngest player to reach the semifinal stage of a top-level professional tournament. He won his first top-level singles title in 1988 at San Francisco, aged 16 years and 7 months.

Chang's most significant youngest-ever record came in 1989 when he won the French Open at the age of 17 years and 3 months, to become the youngest male player ever to win a Grand Slam title. He defeated Stefan Edberg in a five-set final, winning 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. His victory is equally remembered for an epic five-set encounter with Ivan Lendl in the fourth round (see below). Chang became the first American man to win the French Open since 1955. And in August 1989, Chang became the youngest player to be ranked in the world's top-five on the men's singles rankings. (Chang's success marked the start of an era in which a new generation of American players – which also included Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi – would come to dominate the game.)

Chang met Edberg in the semifinals of the US Open in 1992, this time Edberg winning in a five-set encounter 6–7, 7–5, 7–6, 5–7, 6–4. The 5-hour, 26-minute match was the longest in US Open history. Chang reached three further Grand Slam finals after his 1989 French Open triumph – losing the 1995 French Open final to Thomas Muster, the 1996 Australian Open final to Boris Becker, and the 1996 US Open final to Pete Sampras. In the 1995 French Open, he defeated Michael Stich and then two-time defending champion Sergi Bruguera in the semifinals in straight sets. In both the 1996 Australian and U.S. Opens, he defeated Andre Agassi in the semifinals in straight sets; a win over Sampras at the U.S. Open would have made Chang the number one player in the world. In the 1997 U.S. Open, he was the odds-on favorite to win after Sampras was upset by Petr Korda; however, Chang lost to eventual champion Patrick Rafter in the semifinals in straight sets.

Chang was a key member of the US team which won the Davis Cup in 1990. In the semifinals at Austria, his dramatic comeback from two-sets down against Horst Skoff (3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3) led the US into its first Davis Cup final since 1984.[2] Chang would go on to defeat Darren Cahill in straight sets as the US defeated Australia in the final. He was also on the US team which won the World Team Cup in 1993. His best performance in the year-end singles championship came in 1995, when he defeated Muster, Jim Courier and then shockingly dominated Pete Sampras in the semifinals before losing in the final to Boris Becker.

Chang was introduced to tennis by his father Joe, who was his first coach. During his rise in 1989 (including his French Open title), he was coached by José Higueras. For much of his professional career, he was coached by his older brother Carl Chang, who also played in several doubles tournaments with him in the early-1990s. Chang retired from the professional tour in 2003. During his career, he won a total of 34 top-level professional singles titles. His final top-level title was won in 2000 at Los Angeles. His total career prize-money earnings was US$19,145,632. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 2 in 1996, following his US Open finals performance. He was a year-end top-ten player for six consecutive years in the 1990s (1992–1997), a feat matched in the decade only by Pete Sampras. He is one of a few players to win ATP titles in three different decades, and his three Indian Wells Masters championships (1992, 1996, 1997) are an ATP record, equaled only by Roger Federer.

Since retiring from the top-level game, Chang has joined Jim Courier's senior tour, which began on March 10, 2006 in Naples, Florida.

1989 French Open match vs Ivan Lendl

Chang's most famous match took place at the 1989 French Open (on the way to winning his only Grand Slam singles title). In the fourth round, he faced the World No. 1, reigning Australian Open champion, and three-time former French Open champion Ivan Lendl. Conventional wisdom made Lendl the heavy favorite to win the match against the 15th-seeded 17 year-old Chang.

Lendl appeared to be on the way to victory after taking the first two sets 6–4, 6–4 and then breaking Chang's serve in the opening game of the third set. But Chang broke back immediately and went on to claim the third set 6–3. During the fourth set, Chang experienced a severe attack of leg cramps, and though he won the set to level the match, he considered retiring from the match while up 2-1 in the fifth set. He later said that he felt "an unbelievable conviction in my heart" not to give up, and decided to finish the match.[3]

Chang adopted some unusual tactics in an attempt to overcome his cramps. He hit the ball high into the air on many points to slow the game down (known as "moon balls"), and also began to go for more winners in order to shorten the points.[4] Chang also ate bananas and drank water at every opportunity.[5] The success of these tactics caused Lendl, known to be one of the least easily fazed players, to lose his rhythm and caused him to swear at the umpire and the crowd, especially after losing a key point in the fifth set when Chang shocked him by delivering an under-arm serve.[6] Chang later explained, "I was trying to break his concentration. I would do anything to stay out there."

Chang continued to suffer from cramps, but managed to take a 5–3 lead in the fifth set with two match points on Lendl's serve. Aiming to break Lendl's concentration one more time, Chang stood well inside the baseline, almost at the T-line in the centre of the court while waiting to receive Lendl's serve. The crowd started laughing at the bizarre situation and Lendl seemed to think everyone was mocking him.[7] The tactic worked as Lendl produced a double-fault to give Chang the victory, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 in 4 hours and 37 minutes. Chang sank to his knees and broke down in tears at the conclusion of the match. Seven days later, he went on to take the title, becoming the youngest male champion in Grand Slam history.[8][9]

The match was played on June 5, 1989, just one day after the height of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Chang has frequently noted the impact of the massacre when recalling his French Open victory:

"A lot of people forget that Tiananmen Square was going on. The crackdown that happened was on the middle Sunday at the French Open, so if I was not practicing or playing a match, I was glued to the television, watching the events unfold...I often tell people I think it was God's purpose for me to be able to win the French Open the way it was won because I was able to put a smile on Chinese people's faces around the world at a time when there wasn't much to smile about."[10]

(Note: Chang and Lendl played a similar match in a semifinal of the 1991 Grand Slam Cup, where Chang again came back from two sets down and won 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6, 9–7.)

Personal and family life

Chang was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1972 to Joe (張洪笙) and Betty (董良因, née Tung). His parents both grew up in Taiwan (though were born elsewhere) and were educated in the United States, where they met. (Betty moved to the U.S. in 1959 and Joe moved in 1966. They were introduced by a mutual friend.) Betty was born in Delhi, India as the daughter of Michael Tung (董宗山), then serving as the Chinese Ambassador to India. Joe was born in Chaozhou, Guangdong, and moved to Taiwan at age seven. Michael's Chinese name (simplified Chinese: 张德培; traditional Chinese: 張德培; pinyin: Zhāng Dépéi) was chosen by Joe, and his English name by Betty (who named him after her father).

After moving from Hoboken, New Jersey to Placentia, California, the Changs moved to Encinitas, California.Chang dropped out of Grade 10 at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, California, after passing his GED in February 1988 in order to pursue a professional tennis career.

A devout Christian, Chang's faith was first brought to the spotlight after his 1989 French Open championship, when upon winning, declared "I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, because without Him, I am nothing."[11] Chang and his family established the Chang Family Foundation in 1999 to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to the World. The Foundation is now based in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.[12]

Chang served as Chairman of ATP Tour Charities in 1994. He has supported grassroots tennis development in Asia through his Stars of the Future program in Hong Kong and the Reebok Challenge across Asia. He was one of five athletes named in the second annual "Most Caring Athlete" list by USA Today Weekend in 1995. In 1997, he was given one of seven Asian-American leadership awards by A Magazine for his status as a role model for Asian-American youth. He has also served as a national spokesman for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in the US.

In 2001, Chang served as a goodwill ambassador for the 2008 Beijing Olympic bid committee. In 2002, Chang published a book about his career, Holding Serve: Persevering On and Off the Court.

He attended Biola University in La Mirada, California for 1.5 years for a Masters in Ministry to increase his personal Bible knowledge. He serves on the Biola University Board of Trustees.[13]

Chang currently lives in Orange County, California. He is an avid fisherman, who often takes fishing trips while traveling. He also has a passion for breeding African cichlids in several large freshwater aquariums at his home. On October 18, 2008, Chang married Amber Liu, another professional tennis player who is 12 years younger than Chang.[14][15]

On May 3, 2009, Chang was honored by the Los Angeles Chinese Historical Society of Southern California in "Celebrating Chinese Americans in Sports".[16]

Records

Tournament Years Record accomplished Player tied
French Open 1989 Youngest Grand Slam men's singles champion Stands alone
Indian Wells Masters 1992–1997 Most titles (3) Roger Federer

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 4 (1-3)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1989 French Open Clay Sweden Stefan Edberg 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 1995 French Open Clay Austria Thomas Muster 7–5, 6–2, 6–4
Runner-up 1996 Australian Open Hard Germany Boris Becker 6–2, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
Runner-up 1996 US Open Hard United States Pete Sampras 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(3)

Year-End Championships finals

Singles: 1 (0-1)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1995 Frankfurt Carpet Germany Boris Becker 7–6(3), 6–0, 7–6(5)

Masters Series finals

Singles: 9 (7-2)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1990 Canada (Toronto) Hard United States Jay Berger 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(2)
Winner 1992 Indian Wells Hard Russia Andrei Chesnokov 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
Winner 1992 Key Biscayne Hard Argentina Alberto Mancini 7–5, 7–5
Winner 1993 Cincinnati Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 7–5, 0–6, 6–4
Winner 1994 Cincinnati Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 6–2, 7–5
Runner-up 1995 Cincinnati Hard United States Andre Agassi 7–5, 6–2
Winner 1996 Indian Wells Hard Netherlands Paul Haarhuis 7–5, 6–1, 6–1
Runner-up 1996 Cincinnati Hard United States Andre Agassi 7–6(4), 6–4
Winner 1997 Indian Wells Hard Czech Republic Bohdan Ulihrach 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3

Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and ATP Tour career finals

Singles: 58 (34-24)

Wins (34)
Legend
Grand Slam (1)
Year-End Championships (0)
ATP Masters Series (7)
ATP Championship Series (5)
ATP World Series / Grand Prix (21)
Titles by surface
Hard (21)
Clay (4)
Grass (0)
Carpet (9)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. September 26, 1988 San Francisco, USA Carpet United States Johan Kriek 6–2, 6–3
2. May 29, 1989 French Open, Paris, France Clay Sweden Stefan Edberg 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
3. November 7, 1989 Wembley, UK Carpet France Guy Forget 6–2, 6–1, 6–1
4. July 23, 1990 Toronto, Canada Hard United States Jay Berger 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(2)
5. November 4, 1991 Birmingham, UK Carpet France Guillaume Raoux 6–3, 6–2
6. February 3, 1992 San Francisco, USA Hard United States Jim Courier 6–3, 6–3
7. March 2, 1992 Indian Wells, USA Hard Russia Andrei Chesnokov 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
8. March 13, 1992 Key Biscayne, USA Hard Argentina Alberto Mancini 7–5, 7–5
9. January 11, 1993 Jakarta, Indonesia Hard Germany Carl-Uwe Steeb 2–6, 6–2, 6–1
10. March 29, 1993 Osaka, Japan Hard Israel Amos Mansdorf 6–4, 6–4
11. August 9, 1993 Cincinnati, USA Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 7–5, 0–6, 6–4
12. September 27, 1993 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Hard Sweden Jonas Svensson 6–0, 6–4
13. October 18, 1993 Beijing, China Carpet Canada Greg Rusedski 7–6(5), 6–7(6), 6–4
14. January 10, 1994 Jakarta, Indonesia Hard Czech Republic David Rikl 6–3, 6–3
15. February 14, 1994 Philadelphia, USA Carpet Netherlands Paul Haarhuis 6–3, 6–2
16. April 11, 1994 Hong Kong, UK Hard Australia Patrick Rafter 6–1, 6–3
17. April 25, 1994 Atlanta, USA Clay United States Todd Martin 6–7(4), 7–6(4), 6–0
18. August 8, 1994 Cincinnati, USA Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 6–2, 7–5
19. October 17, 1994 Beijing, China Carpet Sweden Anders Järryd 7–5, 7–5
20. April 17, 1995 Hong Kong, UK Hard Sweden Jonas Björkman 6–3, 6–1
21. May 1, 1995 Atlanta, USA Clay United States Andre Agassi 6–2, 6–7(6), 6–4
22. October 9, 1995 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Australia Mark Philippoussis 6–3, 6–4
23. October 16, 1995 Beijing, China Carpet Italy Renzo Furlan 7–5, 6–3
24. March 11, 1996 Indian Wells, USA Hard Netherlands Paul Haarhuis 7–5, 6–1, 6–1
25. July 15, 1996 Washington, D.C., USA Hard South Africa Wayne Ferreira 6–2, 6–4
26. July 29, 1996 Los Angeles, USA Hard Netherlands Richard Krajicek 6–4, 6–3
27. February 17, 1997 Memphis, USA Hard Australia Todd Woodbridge 6–3, 6–4
28. March 10, 1997 Indian Wells, USA Hard Czech Republic Bohdan Ulihrach 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
29. April 7, 1997 Hong Kong, UK Hard Australia Patrick Rafter 6–3, 6–3
30. April 21, 1997 Orlando, USA Clay South Africa Grant Stafford 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
31. July 14, 1997 Washington, D.C., USA Hard Czech Republic Petr Korda 5–7, 6–2, 6–1
32. August 24, 1998 Boston, USA Hard Netherlands Paul Haarhuis 6–3, 6–4
33. October 5, 1998 Shanghai, China Carpet Croatia Goran Ivanišević 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
34. July 24, 2000 Los Angeles, USA Hard United States Jan-Michael Gambill 6–7(2), 6–3, retired
Runner-ups (24)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. September 18, 1989 Los Angeles, USA Hard United States Aaron Krickstein 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
2. July 30, 1990 Los Angeles, USA Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 7–6(4), 2–6, 7–6(3)
3. November 5, 1990 Wembley, UK Carpet Switzerland Jakob Hlasek 7–6(7), 6–3
4. December 10, 1991 Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany Carpet United States David Wheaton 7–5, 6–2, 6-4
5. April 13, 1992 Hong Kong, UK Hard United States Jim Courier 7–5, 6–3
6. December 8, 1992 Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany Carpet Germany Michael Stich 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
7. August 2, 1993 Los Angeles, USA Hard Netherlands Richard Krajicek 0–6, 7–6(3), 7–6(5)
8. August 23, 1993 Long Island, USA Hard Switzerland Marc Rosset 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
9. January 31, 1994 San José, USA Hard Italy Renzo Furlan 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
10. April 4, 1994 Tokyo, Japan Hard United States Pete Sampras 6–4, 6–2
11. October 10, 1994 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Croatia Goran Ivanišević 6–4, 6–4
12. February 6, 1995 San José, USA Hard United States Andre Agassi 6–2, 1–6, 6–3
13. February 20, 1995 Philadelphia, USA Carpet Sweden Thomas Enqvist 0–6, 6–4, 6–0
14. May 29, 1995 French Open, Paris, France Clay Austria Thomas Muster 7–5, 6–2, 6–4
15. August 7, 1995 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard United States Andre Agassi 7–5, 6–2
16. November 14, 1995 Year-End Championships, Hanover, Germany Carpet (I) Germany Boris Becker 7–6(3), 6–0, 7–6(5)
17. January 15, 1996 Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia Hard Germany Boris Becker 6–2, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
18. April 8, 1996 Hong Kong, UK Hard United States Pete Sampras 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
19. August 5, 1996 Cincinnati, USA Hard United States Andre Agassi 7–6(4), 6–4
20. August 26, 1996 U.S. Open, New York City, USA Hard United States Pete Sampras 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(3)
21. September 30, 1996 Singapore Carpet United States Jonathan Stark 6–4, 6–4
22. February 16, 1998 Memphis, USA Hard Australia Mark Philippoussis 6–3, 6–2
23. April 20, 1998 Orlando, USA Clay United States Jim Courier 7–5, 3–6, 7–5
24. January 10, 2000 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Sweden Magnus Norman 3–6, 6–3, 7–5

Singles performance timeline

Tournament 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Career SR
Australian Open A A A A A 3R 2R A SF F SF 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R A 0 / 10
French Open A 3R W QF QF 3R 2R 3R F 3R 4R 3R 1R 3R 2R 1R 1R 1 / 16
Wimbledon A 2R 4R 4R 1R 1R 3R QF 2R 1R 1R 2R A 2R 2R 2R A 0 / 14
U.S. Open 2R 4R 4R 3R 4R SF QF 4R QF F SF 2R 2R 2R 1R 2R 1R 0 / 17
SR 0 / 1 0 / 3 1 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 1 / 57
Indian Wells Masters A 1R QF A QF W SF 3R 3R W W A 1R 2R 1R 1R 1R 3 / 14
Miami Masters A A A A 3R W 1R 3R 2R QF 2R A 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R 1 / 12
Monte Carlo Masters A A A A A A A A A 1R A A A 1R 1R A A 0 / 3
Rome Masters A A A 1R A QF 1R SF 2R QF A 1R QF 2R 2R A A 0 / 10
Hamburg Masters A A A 1R A 2R 1R A A A A 2R 1R 1R 2R A A 0 / 7
Canada Masters A A A W 1R A 3R 3R QF A SF A 3R 2R 1R A A 1 / 9
Cincinnati Masters A QF QF QF 3R SF W W F F SF 2R QF 1R 2R 3R 1R 2 / 16
Madrid Masters (Stuttgart) A A A 3R A A A 2R A A A A A A A A A 0 / 2
Paris Masters A A QF 1R SF 2R 3R SF QF 3R 2R 1R SF 3R A A A 0 / 12
Tennis Masters Cup A A RR A A RR RR RR F RR RR A A A A A A 0 / 7
Runners-up 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 3 5 5 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 24
Titles Won 0 1 2 1 1 3 5 6 4 3 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 34
Overall Win-Loss 4-4 23-13 47-17 36-21 47-20 57-23 66-21 66-21 65-19 65-19 57-21 35-17 30-22 42-26 16-21 7-16 2-10 662-312
Year End Ranking 163 30 5 15 15 6 8 6 5 2 3 29 48 32 94 124 383

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Chang Leads Induction Class of 2008
  2. ↑ Michael Chang's five-set win lifted the U.S. over Austria in Davis Cup play
  3. ↑ EuroCup Of Legends - Michael Chang
  4. ↑ Michael Chang's 89 French Open Title More Than A Fond Memory
  5. ↑ [1]
  6. ↑ Wimbledon Serves Up A Grand Slam
  7. ↑ [2]
  8. ↑ He'll always have Paris: Michael Chang reflects on crowning moment
  9. ↑ What Michael Chang's 1989 French Open Title Meant
  10. ↑ Quitting was an option for Michael Chang
  11. ↑ Tennis Star Michael Chang Testimony
  12. ↑ Chang Family Foundation
  13. ↑ Speech at City of Irvine Tennis Day, February 23, 2008
  14. ↑ Michael Chang Gets Married at Virginity
  15. ↑ Chang inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame
  16. ↑ CHSSC News and Notes April 2009

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Andre Agassi		 ATP Most Improved Player
1989		 Succeeded by
Pete Sampras
French Open men's singles champions

(1968) Ken Rosewall · (1969) Rod Laver · (1970) Jan Kodeš · (1971) Jan Kodeš · (1972) Andrés Gimeno · (1973) Ilie Năstase · (1974) Björn Borg · (1975) Björn Borg · (1976) Adriano Panatta · (1977) Guillermo Vilas  · (1978) Björn Borg · (1979) Björn Borg · (1980) Björn Borg · (1981) Björn Borg · (1982) Mats Wilander · (1983) Yannick Noah · (1984) Ivan Lendl · (1985) Mats Wilander · (1986) Ivan Lendl · (1987) Ivan Lendl · (1988) Mats Wilander · (1989) Michael Chang  · (1990) Andrés Gómez · (1991) Jim Courier · (1992) Jim Courier · (1993) Sergi Bruguera · (1994) Sergi Bruguera · (1995) Thomas Muster · (1996) Yevgeny Kafelnikov · (1997) Gustavo Kuerten · (1998) Carlos Moyà · (1999) Andre Agassi · (2000) Gustavo Kuerten · (2001) Gustavo Kuerten · (2002) Albert Costa · (2003) Juan Carlos Ferrero · (2004) Gastón Gaudio · (2005) Rafael Nadal · (2006) Rafael Nadal · (2007) Rafael Nadal · (2008) Rafael Nadal · (2009) Roger Federer · (2010) Rafael Nadal