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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Michael Chang: Time to Retire from Tennis?
hirteen years ago Michael Chang was lionized as the youngest man ever to win the French Open and the first American male to win in 36 years. This year he quietly exited Roland Garros after blowing a two-set-to-love lead in a first-round match with an obscure Frenchman ranked 224th.
Played Out?
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Chang himself has ceased being a marquee name except in cities like Hong Kong, Beijing and Taipei. His ATP ranking has slipped to 116th from 73rd at the end of 2001. For the first five months of 2002 his prize money totaled a paltry $53,835 compared with $483,000 in 2000, $1.2 million in 1997 and a high of $2 million in 1995. Michael Chang now spends half his time competing in Challenger series tournaments offering piddling purses. His most recent win was $7,200 at an April tournament in Calabasas -- and that was one of his biggest wins of the year. Another Challenger event in Tarzana a week later netted him $520.
Not that Chang needs the prize money to keep himself in tennis balls. His winnings since turning pro at the age of 15 total $18.9 million. And that's not counting an estimated $50 million in endorsements.
It isn't money that keeps Michael Chang playing tennis. It is God. Or rather, the deep conviction that he has been blessed with his once-unparalleled quickness and killer groundstrokes so that they can be applied to the service of Jesus. A world-class Jesus freak, Michael Chang is animated by the missionary zeal of spreading the gospel to tennis fans worldwide.
"I used to put too much emphasis on winning and losing, but my perspective changed when I became a Christian," he once told a fan. "It is much easier now to go out and perform because I no longer feel that same pressure -- God has taken it away. He has given me a great sense of peace. I've also been very blessed in my life because I have my mom, dad, sister-in-law Diana, and brother Carl (my coach) supporting and praying for me."
God has not seen fit to grant Chang the level of tennis greatness attained by contemporaries Pete Sampras (six months older) and Andre Agassi (22 months older). Michael Chang has won 34 career titles but his only Grand Slam title came when he won the 1989 French Open at the sensational age of 17 years and 3 months. By contrast his lifelong tennis nemesis Pete Sampras owns 63 titles, 13 of which are Grand Slams. Andre Agassi counts 7 Grand Slams among his 52 singles titles.
God might also be resented for denying Michael Chang, 30, the longevity granted to erswhile rivals. Like Chang, Sampras was knocked out of the 2002 French Open in the first round but has played well enough in recent months to hold number 23 in ATP rankings. Agassi, now 32, is enjoying a remarkable comeback after a long, humiliating slump, winning the 1999 French and U.S. Opens and the 2000 and 2001 Australian Open, in addition to reaching the Wimbledon finals or semis three years running.
That's the kind of resurgence boldly predicted in 2000 for Michael by his father Joe Chang, the man who was Michael's first coach. The son failed the father's prophecy. He has not reached even a Grand Slam semi since losing to Patrick Rafter in straight sets at the 97 U.S. Open. The closest Chang came to a second Grand Slam title was losing the 96 U.S. Open final to Sampras, and losing the 1995 French Open final to Thomas Muster -- both in straight sets.
In fairness let's recall the golden years when Michael Chang exceeded every expectation placed on his young head.
He was born on February 22, 1972 in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was his brother Carl, three years his elder, who had been earmarked for tennis glory by papa Joe, a research chemist. But by age eight the tagalong kid brother had shown enough promise to be entered in local tournaments. As an eighth grader at Oak Crest Junior High, the 12-year-old Chang took a high school algebra course just so he could qualify for the San Diego high school championships. He won it by beating Carl in the finals. Hailed a prodigy of the SoCal junior circuit, Chang came up time and again against another prodigy from Rancho Palos Verdes named Pete Sampras -- and got the better of him, more times than not.
Michael had just begun his sophomore year at Valencia High when he made his mark on the international tennis scene. By beating Australian star Paul McNamee in the opening round of the 1987 U.S. Open, he became the youngest man ever to win a match there. It was a remarkable feat. A sport full of tall power players had been set on its ear by a 5-9 boy weighing 139! Four months later Michael, not yet 16, dropped out of high school and his mother Betty dropped out of her career as a biochemist. The decision had been made to turn Michael's tennis career into a family business.
"Money was the biggest problem," Michael explained. For the two years preceding the decision to turn pro, his parents had depleted their savings at the tune of $40,000-50,000 a year on tournament traveling expenses and lessons from the likes of Australian Phil Dent and Argentinian Jose Higuera. "We're middle class people. It was getting out of hand." If Michael wanted to continue rising in the tennis world, turning pro was the only option.
Thus was born what the tennis press snidely dubbed "The Chang Gang". Joe was head coach and CEO. Betty was chauffeur, cheerleader and constant companion. Carl, a freshman at Cal and already an ace on its tennis squad, was recruited to serve as his kid brother's hitting partner, assistant coach, and ultimately, coach. At various times Joe Chang retained top pros to polish aspects of Michael's game, but caught flack for being his son's only real coach until giving up the job to Carl.
But who can question the Chang Gang's success? Between 1989 and 1997, the family business averaged well over a million a year in prize money, not to mention upwards of $8 million a year in endorsements. But by 1998 Michael Chang's career hit a ravine. His winnings totaled under a half million and he failed to get past the early rounds of any Grand Slam event. His only titles were minor events in Boston and Shanghai. The next year he failed to win even a minor. In 2000 he sparked a brief comeback hope by winning the Los Angeles open, but by year end he was written off as a has been.
His outings since haven't changed that perception, least of all his most recent ones. His 160-pound frame looks more powerful, perhaps, than in his salad days, but it also seems sluggish, tired.
Michael Chang's phenomenal success in attracting endorsements over the years has depended on his role as the tennis world's Asian standard-bearer. No one is appearing on the horizon to take over that role. Yet, many AA tennis fans find it even sadder to see their old hero repeatedly humiliated in early rounds of minor events.
Has the time come for Michael Chang to bow out of professional tennis? Or is there a realistic prospect of an Agassi-style comeback?
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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:09:45 PM)
Steroids and performance enhancers
AC Dropout
Monday, June 10, 2002 at 07:05:16 (PDT)
Well, tennis is a sport where youth matters. Chang was good in his days. He had some spot lights. He did a lot better than other players. Now if you compare him to top players than Chang will take the back seat. One of the reason for Chang weakness was his lack of height. Agassi is not a tall player either but he makes it up with power. Chang was a more of a quick player. But every one will tell you that as you get older speed is the first thing to go. Power is one of the last thing to go. If Chang wants to be a top player again. He may have to get a new trainer and just reinvent himself. THis is more or less what Agassi had to do.
john
Sunday, June 09, 2002 at 21:43:24 (PDT)
Michael Chang is a hero for me because he represented the Asian males so well when Asian men really need a hero. He is always classy, works hard, ultra competitive, and plays a mean game of tennis, especially for one who doesn't have the physical skills that other tennis players such as Agassi or Sampras have. Michael Chang has made a difference with his life and that is probably the best compliments that I can give him. Great job, Michael.
Chang is Great
Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 22:13:51 (PDT)
What does his spiritual beliefs have to do with his tennis ability? Just because he believes in Christ right away he is supposed to be the most awesome tennis player in the world? Give me a break! There are more important things in life and it appears as if Michael has his priorities in order. Not every tennis pro can say that they have won the French Open. Even Pete Sampras.
To Naki and still got a chance
Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 22:03:20 (PDT)
KM,24,
groundstroking is a tactic which can only be exciting for insiders. Most people who dislike tennis criticize the boring groundstroking matches on slow clay.They're not aware of that tennis can be a fast and exciting sport and how impressive powerful smashes and volleys can look like.
Agassi himself could only win Wimbledon because he learnt serve-and-volley.
rare stuff
Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 16:39:17 (PDT)
Anyone heard of Cecil Mehmet (I think that is his name and I think he is an Asian American - he's definitely Asian). Heard of him a couple of years ago because he did ok in a tournament in Australia, but haven't heard of him since. Can anyone fill me in as to how he is going?
Chinese Aussie Bloke
Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 21:31:56 (PDT)
I didn't think that serve and volley tactics were that modern. And for people who master groundstroking (i.e. Andre Agassi), it must be fun to run those serve and volley people around the court.
KM, 24
Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 17:39:55 (PDT)
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