Michael
Chang was just a kid when he first burst onto the pro tennis scene in
1987. He had been on the Tour for little more than a year when, at age
17, he stunned the tennis world by upsetting all-time greats like Ivan
Lendl and Stefan Edberg on the way to his first Grand Slam title--the
1989 French Open. His name was entered into the history books as the
youngest player ever to win a Grand Slam event!
Now, in his 10 years as a pro, he has reached the finals of three of the four Grand Slams (the Australian, the French, and the U.S. Open). He has captured over 30 tournament titles, earning more than $14 million in prize money. For seven years, he's been ranked as one of the top ten players in the world.
On the tennis circuit his persistence and determination are nearly legendary. As Edberg has said, "Chang never gives up." Referring to his intensity and his amazing ability to get to "impossible" shots, one sportwriter called Michael "the most exciting player since Jimmy Connors." Another concluded, "Jim Courier speaks for all the pros when he says, 'You have to play your best tennis to beat him.'"
One of the world's best players, Chang is committed to going out and giving his best every time he steps onto the court. And off the court, he goes out of his way to reach out to his fans and have a positive impact on their lives. He makes time to sign autographs and answers their questions; he participates in a variety of special charities, tennis clinics, and youth-oriented programs. He talks to children, reminding them to work hard in school.
Since professional tennis is a year-round sport with tournaments played at stadiums and arenas all over the world, Michael has a pretty hectic schedule. The reason he invests so much of his time in touching the lives of his fans is that his ultimate goal is not a ranking or a Grand Slam victory.