Michael Chang
Chang first came to the tennis world's attention as a junior player who set numerous "youngest-ever" records. He won his first top-level singles title in 1988 at San Francisco, aged 16 years and 7 months.
His most significant youngest-ever record came in 1989 when he won the French Open at the age of 17 years and 3 months to become the youngest male player ever to win a Grand Slam title. He defeated Stefan Edberg in a five-set final, winning 6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2. His victory is equally remembered for an epic five-set encounter with Ivan Lendl in the fourth round, in which Chang famously resorted to an underarm serve when suffering from severe leg cramps and struggling to stay in the match.
Chang also famously took part on the longest match in US Open history. His 1992 semi final against Stefan Edberg was a five-set encounter won 6–4 in the fifth set by the Swede. Chang reached three Grand Slam finals after his 1989 French Open triumph – losing the 1995 French Open final to Muster, the 1996 Australian Open final to Becker, and the 1996 US Open final to Sampras.
Known for being one of the fastest players to cover the court and for never giving up until the final winner had been struck, Chang was able to use his speed to compete in an era of otherwise serve-dominated tennis. Chang was also a member of the US team which won the Davis Cup in 1990, beating Australia in the final.
After winning his final top-level title in 2000 in Los Angeles, Chang made the decision to retire from the professional tour in 2003.
