The ATP and WTA tours differ in several ways. While it is not uncommon for teenagers to make a significant impact on the women’s tour, success on the men’s side typically comes later in a player’s career. Michael Chang‘s remarkable victory at the 1989 French Open, where he claimed the title at just 17 years old, beating Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, made him the youngest Grand Slam singles champion in men’s tennis — a record he still holds today.
Chang was born on February 22, 1972, in Hoboken, New Jersey, to parents who had emigrated from China. His family later moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he began learning tennis, and then to California to further his and his brother Carl’s tennis opportunities. Chang’s mother, Betty, quit her job as a chemist to support his tennis career, traveling with him on tour. At 15, after reaching a world ranking of 163 as an amateur, Chang left high school to pursue tennis professionally and later earned his GED.
At just 15 years old, Chang made history at the 1987 US Open, becoming the youngest player to win a main draw match by defeating Paul McNamee. He continued to break records, reaching the semifinals in Scottsdale a month later as the youngest player to achieve that feat in a top-level event. In 1988, at the age of 16 years and seven months, Chang captured his first professional singles title in San Francisco, defeating Johan Kriek in the final. His run included a dominant victory over 1986 French Open finalist Mikael Pernfors.
His historic French Open run
Already known for his speed, determination, and tactical intelligence, Chang was going to make history at the 1989 French Open. His historic run included an epic fourth-round comeback against world No. 1 Ivan Lendl, where he battled through cramps and exhaustion to win in five sets — a match still regarded as one of the most inspiring moments in tennis history.
Chang won the 1989 French Open (Bob Martin/Getty Images)
“My mindset against Ivan was that I knew it was going to be a very tough match. My cramps really started toward the end of the fourth set. For me to toss in some lobs here and there — I was just trying to buy time,” he told Tennis Channel in June 2024.
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While trying to play with cramps, Chang tried an underarm serve. “He ended up coming in, and I hit a passing shot that clipped off the top of the net, then off the top of his racket. From there, it wasn’t just a physical battle but a mental one too,” he explained.
However, he went on victorious to meet Stefan Edberg in the final, which he won in a thrilling five-setter (6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2). With his victory, Chang not only became the youngest champion. He was also the first American to win the French Open since Tony Trabert in 1955, and the first American man to win a Grand Slam since 1984.
Chang won 34 ATP Titles (Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT)
“I’ve always told people that even if I had won another Grand Slam tournament, nothing would ever top the ’89 French Open,” Chang told Tennis Channel. “The situation surrounding it, with the Tiananmen Square going on at the same time, made front-page news. It was a very difficult time for Chinese people around the world. I’ve always felt that the reason why God allowed me to win that tournament was because I am of Chinese descent, and it was meant to put a smile on Chinese people’s faces during a time when there wasn’t much to smile about.”
Chang’s career: 34 ATP titles and Hall of Fame
He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 2 in September 1996 and stayed among the world’s top players during the 1990s. Chang reached three other Grand Slam finals — the 1995 French Open, 1996 Australian Open, and 1996 US Open — but finished runner-up in each.
Michael Chang is a Tennis Hall of Famer (Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images)
In total, Michael Chang won 34 ATP singles titles and earned more than $19 million in prize money. He was a key figure in the United States’ Davis Cup victories in 1990 and 1992. Chang retired in 2003 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Chang’s success marked the beginning of a new generation of American players — including Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, and Andre Agassi — who would dominate men’s tennis through the 1990s and early 2000s, before the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
