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Michael Chang to Open Tennis Academy in Shenzhen
ichael Chang, the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam tennis title, will open an academy in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, media reported Tuesday.
The announcement of Chang's plan came as China is counting down for the Beijing Olympic next August.
A Chinese-American, Chang said he aimed to nurture young Chinese players in a bid to bring the level of Chinese tennis up to the international standard, the official news agency Xinhua quoted him as saying in a press conference Tuesday.
``I have a wish, which is to contribute my experience accumulated from playing in world tournaments to the development of tennis in China,'' Chang was quoted saying. ``I believe I have the ability to do that.''
He planned to open his academy in Shenzhen's Mission Hills Country Club, where there are 51 tennis courts.
Chang, who retired in 2002, has worked with Peng Shuai, one of the country's tennis hopes in next year's Beijing Olympics, since March.
After winning the French Open _ his only career major _ in 1989 at age 17 years and three months, Chang rose to a career-high No. 2 ranking in 1996.
He finished seven seasons inside the top 10 and won 34 tour titles, also reaching Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros in 1995 and at the Australian Open and U.S. Opens in '96.
He is very popular in China, where he is better known by his Mandarin name Zhang Depei.
Tue August 14, 2007 08:19 EDT
HONG KONG (AP)
French Open champion Michael Chang, once ranked No. 2 in the world tennis player, hopes to help China's tennis players compete at the highest levels. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) |