Michael Chang: earning his stripes in a nation of stars

Michael Chang stepped into the ATP Tour in 1988 - an era in which US tennis wasn't short of headliner prospects. By 1989 though, at 17 years old, he'd roared past the likes of Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras to become the first American of his generation to claim a Grand Slam title. The Roland Garros champion remains the youngest man to win any major but, as he reveals in this Sit-Down, the Californian performed best on the North American hard courts. Chang won two and reached four consecutive finals in Cincinnati, as well as lifting trophies in Toronto, Indian Wells and Miami, among other American tournaments. Following his playing career, the former world No.2 guided Kei Nishikori to the 2014 US Open Final and, since Wimbledon 2025, has worked with teenage sensation Learner Tien. 

Originally published on 19/08/2024 and 07/10/2024

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