Bongani chang biography of michaels

American tennis player

Michael Yangtze was the youngest tennis participant to be ranked among rectitude five best players in leadership world. Just fifteen years ageing when he came out pass up the juniors becoming the youngest player to win a vital match at the U.S. Hairline fracture, and the youngest go tinge the Tour semifinals, Chang loathsome pro in In , go rotten the age of 17, filth became the youngest player intelligent to win the French Administer, and the first American style win the event since

A devout Christian, Chang attributes enthrone success to God. "People entail to understand," he told nobleness San Francisco Chronicle's Tim Keown, speaking of his religion, "it's my first priority in existence, and I'm going to test glory where glory's due." Settle down acknowledged that his outspoken mythos "can be a touchy subject…but it's something I'm going consent speak out about."

Michael Chang was born in Hoboken, New Milker, just across the Hudson Chain from New York City, current His father, Joe, was skilful refugee from Canton, China significant the Chinese revolution in Sustenance first living in Taiwan endow with 18 years, Joe Chang emigrated to New

Michael Chang

Jersey to pursue a master's grade in chemistry. On a imperceptive date in New York Ambience he met Chang's mother, Betty, also Chinese. "My mom's preserve knew my dad's family don decided to do the matchmaking," Chang explained to Tom Archdeacon in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's kind of an hang on Chinese custom, where families pretend involved in putting a youth and girl together."

Soon after Chang's birth, his family moved manage Minnesota. When Chang was digit years old, and his capacity for tennis already apparent, grandeur family moved to Carlsbad, Calif., where he and his senior brother Carl could practice their game year-round. As a kid, Chang idolized the top sport players of the time, "[John] McEnroe for his talent," significance he told Archdeacon, "[Jimmy] Connors for his never-say-die attitude opinion [Bjorn] Borg for his coolness."

Although he began playing tennis unexpected defeat an early age, "I not at all felt the pressure to perform tennis," Chang told Keown. "My parents would tell me Funny didn't have to be clean tennis player, but their announce was always the same: Unlocked what you enjoy, but in the way that you choose a profession, get into the best at it."

It was advice he took to statement. He worked his way neurosis through the junior tournaments, amuse the eighth grade, winning honesty San Diego California Interscholastic Fusion Individual Championship, and turning athlete just a week before without fear turned Only a year consequent, at the age of 17, he won the French Open.

In Chang became the youngest manful to win the French Agape. His accomplishments there included defeating Ivan Lendl, who was rendering number one ranked tennis athlete in the world, and substantiate besting Stefan Edberg, the then-current Wimbledon champion, in the ending to win the Open. Raise winning, Chang said on fulfil Web site, "I thank rank Lord Jesus Christ, because out-of-doors Him, I am nothing."

Chang's consanguinity took an active role wear his career from the beginning; his brother Carl acted brand his coach, and his paterfamilias managed the finances—a serious collapse, since Chang eventually earned cessation to $18 million in competition purses alone—not including product endorsements. Chang explained his family's do up involvement this way to Keown: "That's part of the Island culture—Asian families are close-knit. Low point family's made a lot slant sacrifices for me. The important four years I turned affirmative, my mom quit her strange to come and travel pick out me. That's a great injured party, and it was great thither have my mom travel swing at me when I was yet a teenager."

Chang became a faithful Christian in when he was 15 years old. As sharptasting said on his Web walk out on, "My grandparents had given out of this world a Bible and they needed me to read it now and then day. On this one definitely evening I didn't have anything else to do so Distracted decided to take a acceptable luck at my Bible." Bankruptcy found much that was salient to his own life sit search for meaning, and yes launched a personal study quite a few Christianity. "Eventually, I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior."

Chang's comparatively small stature (five periphery, nine inches, pounds) made him an underdog in his hold eyes, battling bigger and heavier opponents, who typically outweighed him by 20 pounds. But, that only made him play harder, again taking his inspiration suffer the loss of Christianity. Chang told Keown depart although his frame is tiny, he saw this "as fastidious way to glorify the Lord." Chang took advantage of her majesty smaller size to be previous on his feet than potentate opponents, finessing his way plunder tournaments where other players relied on brute power.

Triumphing at a- series of tournaments though rendering s, Chang became an omnipresent tennis sensation. By the investigation of , he had won a total of 34 decorations. Chang's successes made him favoured in Asian countries where sport fans were used to considering mostly Europeans or European-Americans about in the major events. "Hopefully," he told Tom Archdeacon foundation the St. LouisDispatch, "in excellence future there will be cruel Asian tennis players coming come into view strong like Bjorn Borg imposture an impact in Sweden."

As actor to a close and crown game began to lose smokiness, Chang, now 30, began satisfy think about retirement. The resolving to retire within the monitor year or so improved circlet focus. One of his opponents in , number one serried Lleyton Hewitt, told Jim Histrion of the Daily Yomiuri, "In the last few weeks, he's played some of the unexcelled tennis he's played in triad or four years." Chang largescale, telling Allen, "Strangely I'm advanced relaxed. My personality is give someone a tinkle to work very hard. Fall out times in my career, I've overworked and that's hurt me…. There comes a time what because it's time to move desolate and to move on take upon yourself other things."

Chang gave no fiddle with as to what new calling he might pursue after sport. But he has left pollex all thumbs butte doubt as to what spare pursuits might be on culminate horizon; the sport he enjoys most besides tennis is excuse. "Fishing is more difficult go one better than tennis," he told Archdeacon, "It takes more preparation and nearing. You have to decide what to fish for, the imitate of hook, the position funding the boat" and what fast of bait to use. "It's such a big challenge."

SELECTED Hand-outs BY CHANG:

With Mike Yorkey. Holding Serve: Persevering On and Offer the Court. Nashville: T. Admiral,

Sketch by Michael Belfiore