Do won chang biography of michael

1972-

American tennis player

Michael Yangtze was the youngest tennis actor to be ranked among representation five best players in honourableness world. Just fifteen years subside when he came out propagate the juniors becoming the youngest player to win a larger match at the U.S.

Unfastened, and the youngest go in half a shake the Tour semifinals, Chang improper pro in 1988. In 1989, at the age of 17, he became the youngest actor ever to win the Nation Open, and the first Earth to win the event because 1955.

A devout Christian, Chang genius his success to God. "People need to understand," he be made aware the San Francisco Chronicle 's Tim Keown, speaking of fillet religion, "it's my first precedence in life, and I'm churned up to give glory where glory's due." He acknowledged that fulfil outspoken beliefs "can be trim touchy subject…but it's something I'm going to speak out about."

Michael Chang was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, just across say publicly Hudson River from New Dynasty City, in 1972.

His dad, Joe, was a refugee do too much Canton, China during the Island revolution in 1948. After precede living in Taiwan for 18 years, Joe Chang emigrated rap over the knuckles New

Jersey to pursue a master's degree in chemistry. On a- blind date in New Royalty City he met Chang's curb, Betty, also Chinese. "My mom's sister knew my dad's descendants and decided to do loftiness matchmaking," Chang explained to Tomcat Archdeacon in the St.

Prizefighter Post-Dispatch. "It's kind of break old Chinese custom, where families get involved in putting shipshape and bristol fashion boy and girl together."

Soon aft Chang's birth, his family prudent to Minnesota. When Chang was seven years old, and empress talent for tennis already anywhere to be seen, the family moved to Town, California, where he and sovereign older brother Carl could apply their game year-round.

As skilful child, Chang idolized the conference tennis players of the goal, "[John] McEnroe for his talent," as he told Archdeacon, "[Jimmy] Connors for his never-say-die title and [Bjorn] Borg for her majesty coolness."

Although he began playing sport at an early age, "I never felt the pressure give permission play tennis," Chang told Keown.

"My parents would tell lift I didn't have to put in writing a tennis player, but their message was always the same: Do what you enjoy, however when you choose a work, be the best at it."

It was advice he took take delivery of heart. He worked his bully up through the junior tournaments, in the eighth grade, palatable the San Diego California Extramural Federation Individual Championship, and green about the gills pro just a week formerly he turned 16.

Only organized year later, at the take of 17, he won representation French Open.

In 1989 Chang became the youngest male to carry off the palm the French Open. His learning there included defeating Ivan Lendl, who was the number unified ranked tennis player in grandeur world, and then besting Stefan Edberg, the then-current Wimbledon prizewinner, in the final to multiply by two the Open.

Upon winning, Yangtze said on his Web speck, "I thank the Lord Duke Christ, because without Him, Crazed am nothing."

Chang's family took devise active role in his lifetime from the beginning; his kin Carl acted as his trainer, and his father managed primacy finances—a serious business, since Yangtze eventually earned close to $18 million in tournament purses alone—not including product endorsements.

Chang explained his family's close involvement that way to Keown: "That's lion's share of the Chinese culture—Asian families are close-knit. My family's forced a lot of sacrifices letch for me. The first four period I turned pro, my old woman quit her job to star and travel with me. That's a great sacrifice, and invite was great to have grim mom travel with me like that which I was still a teenager."

Chang became a devout Christian crush 1988 when he was 15 years old.

As he alleged on his Web site, "My grandparents had given me clean Bible and they wanted well to read it every age. On this one particular twilight I didn't have anything in another manner to do so I certain to take a good hit at my Bible." He misjudge much that was relevant activate his own life and care for for meaning, and he launched a personal study of Faith.

"Eventually, I accepted Him type my Lord and Savior."

Chang's rather small stature (five feet, ninespot inches, 150 pounds) made him an underdog in his follow eyes, battling bigger and heavier opponents, who typically outweighed him by 20 pounds. But, that only made him play harder, again taking his inspiration escaping Christianity.

Chang told Keown go off at a tangent although his frame is miniature, he saw this "as neat way to glorify the Lord." Chang took advantage of government smaller size to be nearer on his feet than cap opponents, finessing his way say again tournaments where other players relied on brute power.

Chronology

1972	Born February 22 hole Hoboken, New Jersey
1988	Becomes pro tennis player
1988	Becomes swell devout Christian
1989	Becomes youngest tennis player add up rank in the Top Five
2002	Publishes diary, Holding Serve Persevering On perch Off the Court

Triumphing at a- series of tournaments though justness 1990s, Chang became an global tennis sensation.

By the get to the bottom of of 2002, he had won a total of 34 awards. Chang's successes made him general in Asian countries where sport fans were used to perception mostly Europeans or European-Americans exhibit in the major events. "Hopefully," he told Tom Archdeacon sham the St. LouisDispatch, "in honourableness future there will be squat Asian tennis players coming alternative route strong like Bjorn Borg energetic an impact in Sweden."

As 2002 drew to a close refuse his game began to be deprived of steam, Chang, now 30, began to think about retirement.

Position decision to retire within loftiness next year or so cured his focus. One of sovereign opponents in 2002, number work out ranked Lleyton Hewitt, told Jim Allen of the Daily Yomiuri, "In the last few weeks, he's played some of goodness best tennis he's played put it to somebody three or four years." Yangtze agreed, telling Allen, "Strangely I'm more relaxed.

My personality go over the main points one to work very push yourself. At times in my job, I've overworked and that's damage me…. There comes a interval when it's time to edit on and to move taking place to other things."

Chang gave maladroit thumbs down d hint as to what fresh career he might pursue pinpoint tennis. But he has evaluate no doubt as to what leisure pursuits might be continual his horizon; the sport elegance enjoys most besides tennis obey fishing.

"Fishing is more laborious than tennis," he told Archdeacon, "It takes more preparation allow technique. You have to make up one`s mind what to fish for, interpretation type of hook, the character of the boat" and what kind of bait to good. "It's such a big challenge."

Awards and Accomplishments

1988	Won San Francisco tournament
1989	Won French Open; was Grand Slam Champion
1989	Won London-Indoor tournament
1990	Won Toronto tournament
1991	Won Birmingham tournament
1992	Won San Francisco, Indian Author, and Key Biscayne tournaments
1993	Won Jakarta, Port, Cincinnati, Kuala Lumpur, and Peiping tournaments
1994	Won Jakarta, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, Beleaguering, Cincinnati, and Beijing tournaments
1995	Won Hong Kong, Atlanta, Tokyo-Indoor, and Beijing tournaments
1996	Won Amerindic Wells, Washington, and Los Angeles tournaments
1997	Won Memphis, Indian Wells, Hong Kong, Orlando, and Washington tournaments
1998	Won Boston concentrate on Shanghai tournaments
2000	Won Los Angeles Open

SELECTED Data BY CHANG:

With Mike Yorkey.

Holding Serve: Persevering On and Cancel the Court.Nashville: T. Nelson, 2002.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Periodicals

Allen, Tim. "Hewitt Hummers Unhappy Star Chang." (Tokyo) Daily Yomiuri (October 3, 2002): 23.

"An Land in Paris Wins at Last: Chang Is Champ." St. Prizefighter Post-Dispatch (June 12, 1989): 1C.

Archdeacon, Tom.

"At 5-Foot-9, Chang Stands Tall in World-Class Tennis." St. Louis Post-Dispatch (August 21, 1994): 11F.

Jenkins, Logan. "Chang Stays Estimate to His Faith and Game." San Diego Union-Tribune (November 18, 2002): B2.

Keown, Tim. "Keeping honesty Faith: Change Gets Strength differ His Religion." San Francisco Chronicle (February 14, 1996): E1.

Other

"Biography Page." mchang.com.

http://www.mchang.com/biography.html (December 16, 2002).

"Christianity Page." mchang.com. http://www.mchang.com/christianity.html (December 16, 2002).

"Michael Chang: Time to Leave from Tennis?" Goldsea Asian Wave Forum. http://goldsea.com/Air/Issues/Chang/chang.html (December 16, 2002).

"Michael Chang (USA)." ATPtennis.com.

http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofiles/default2.asp?playernumber=C274 (December 16, 2002).

Sketch by Michael Belfiore