On the courts of Roland Garros, during the 1989 French Open, Chang amazed spectators and
fellow players by upsetting tennis greats Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg on the way to capturing his
first Grand Slam title. The contests against Edberg and Lendl are well remembered by tennis
followers, the young champion coming back from behind to win both matches. The Lendl match in
particular is viewed as one of the greatest displays of raw courage ever. During the match, Michael
had to draw upon all his strength to overcome severe cramps, at one stage even being forced to
serve underhanded. Through this determination, the teen managed to resurrect the match from two
sets down to win the epic five-set battle in four hours and thirty-seven minutes.
Remembering his amazing French Open win, Chang says: `It came much earlier than we'd ever
dreamed. The last four matches in particular were just played on inspiration. I never expected it; I
don't think the tennis world or anyone else expected it. But the Lord has his way of working things.'
At seventeen, the raw American became the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title and still
holds this place in the history books. Chang also ended the year ranked in the top five of the world,
being the youngest player ever to do so.
Over a decade later, Chang's presence is still felt on the tour. The years have seen him win over
thirty titles with earnings steadily approaching US$20 million, attain an ATP world ranking of 2nd
(September 9, 1996) and become recognised as one of the most determined players in tennis.
When a player steps onto the court and sees Michael Chang at the other end, they know that they
are in for a battle. He'll never give in or give up. He'll chase down every shot and fight for every
point. If plan A fails, he'll move to plan B or C or even D. It is this tireless persistence which led
Edberg to exclaim: "Chang never, ever gives up."
Michael explains: `The Lord has taught me many things in my life. The one that comes up most
often is perseverance - the ability to get back up and try again when you fall and fail. When I first
came on the tour people said, “He's too small,” “His serve isn't big enough” and “He's too much of
a defensive player - he's not going to last very long.” They were entitled to their opinions, but to me
it fuelled the challenge to go out there and prove them wrong. I look at my tennis career as a
testimony to the Lord, to show that with him all things are possible.'
Chang's faith gives him the strength and motivation to keep battling it out on the courts time and
time again, and as his words suggest, his faith is an integral part of his life. From the beginning of
his career, he unashamedly spoke of the importance of his faith in God, much to the amusement of
some of his critics. `Sure, kid,' they offered, `Give it a few years! Wait until you've lived a little and
see how you feel then!'
Michael continued to stand.
At the 1989 French Open, as he received the winner's trophy, Chang addressed the crowd of
16,000, thanking everyone who had contributed to his success. He concluded by thanking Jesus
Christ, saying, `Without him, I'm nothing!' Along with the cheers came boos and whistles. TV
commentators, coaches and even other players criticised him for 'dragging his religion into
everything.' They advised him to keep his personal beliefs to himself.
Chang was unfazed by the response. He continued to speak about his faith at every opportunity,
giving God the glory for his success. It is what he said he would do when he began his career and
there was no reason to stop now.
`I've just received so much joy, so much love and so many blessings from the Lord,' he explains.
`When something good happens to you, you want to share it with people.'
Over the years, Michael Chang has accumulated an impressive record of dramatic victories and
mind-blowing comebacks. He has also suffered tough losses, including three Grand Slam finals. As
Chang himself will tell you, there are times when no matter how hard we try, things don't turn out
as we hope.
`The fact of life is that you aren't always going to have great times,' he says. `There are tough times
and discouraging times. You have to go out there and give your all, whether you win or lose. I
actually learn more from my losses than from my wins. In many ways, it's kind of humbling. I think
back to the things I could work on. I learn from them and improve.'
`Over the years, I've learned that the Lord only asks you to go out and give your best for him,'
Chang continues. `There's a confidence that comes in knowing that everything is in God's hands.
He's always in control and He has a purpose for everything.'
`I used to think that if I lost, it wasn't glorifying to God, but what I've realised is that when you
lose, people are watching to see how you react. They can tell whether or not you are sincere about
your beliefs and where you stand by how you handle it. You get off the court after losing a tough
match and in the press conference they'll ask you a few questions to kind of irritate you a little.
They want to see exactly where you stand and where your heart is. I pray that the Lord will shine
through me - that he'll give me strength and peace and that, no matter what happens, my actions and
words will glorify Him.'
`I realise that it's really important for me to keep my eyes on the Lord and not get too caught up in
winning and losing,' Michael adds. `God has his plans and his timing. It's comforting to know that
he understands everything I go through and that nothing happens apart from his will. I'm learning to
praise him in every circumstance, because he knows what's best.'
`I was fortunate in that I became a Christian the first year I was on the Tour,' recalls Michael.
`Before all the fame and money, the Lord was there teaching me his way first. The wonderful thing
is that, as I look back at my life, I can see that even when I wasn't a Christian, he was still there
looking out for me. Now, I'm just constantly trying to surrender myself to him, so the Holy Spirit
can do his work through me.'
To Michael, the most important thing is to make Christ the very centre of his life. `Trying to stay
close to the Lord can be very difficult to do by yourself, so you ask the Lord to help you. You ask
him to be your first love and your first priority. Life will have its ups and downs but, regardless of
what's happening in our lives, if we're focusing on him, we'll have the joy that he gives us.'
`My first priority is to be a Christian,' Chang says. `I feel I've been put in this position to touch
people's lives in a positive way. I look at my role as a tennis player as doing more than hitting
forehands and backhands. For me, it's important to do the work that I've been called to do. I want to
portray a Christ-like image.'
`Tennis is a high profile sport. It's covered by the press, it's on TV and there are events all around
the world. I realise I have a wonderful opportunity to touch people's lives.'
Michael, who became a Christian at sixteen after reading a Bible that his grandparents had given
him, also wants others to know about the relationship that they can have with Christ. `When people
read the Bible, and read it genuinely, they see that it expresses a lot of love, a lot of giving, a lot of
peace. It's something I feel people of this world, especially young kids, need. There's a lot of
turmoil, a lot of peer pressure and a lot of temptations that can lead a youngster astray. I see my
purpose at the moment as being to play some good tennis, work hard and touch people's lives.'
Throughout Chang's career, the media have routinely characterised his matches with allusions to
the biblical struggle between David and Goliath. At 175cm and under seventy kilograms, Chang
appears to be at a disadvantage in a game in which size usually equals power. He constantly faces
the threat of being outgunned and overpowered by bigger, taller players. But with guts and
determination he has earned his place among the world's best, working hard to turn his weaknesses
into strengths.
`I like being the underdog,' Chang adds. `It gives me a great deal of confidence to play somebody
bigger and stronger and still beat them. My strength comes from that and I don't back down from a
challenge.'
To Michael, tennis is a thinking person's game, and it shows in the way that he strategically
conquers his opponents. More than any other player on tour, Chang is able to change and adapt his
game plan to fit the situation, allowing him to find a way to win. His speed and agility on the court
make up for what he lacks in height and his serve - once a liability - has now become a weapon.
`There's nothing in my game that's so solid that I don't need to work on it,' he says. `You know, I
just try to do everything a little bit better, just try to solidify every part of my game. From there I
know the opportunities to win Grand Slams will come and hopefully I'll be able to take advantage
of those opportunities. I know the rankings and the points will follow that.'
One of the fittest players on the Tour, Chang spends hours practicing on the court and working out
in the gym. Yet he has discovered that there is more to fitness than exercise. `You work hard on
physical conditioning, but you also need to take time to rest. Both play an important role,' he says.
`Working hard every single day is too hard - it just drains me. I always try to take at least one day
off or, if I've been on a long trip, a few days off. For me, rest is just as important as hard work
because it refreshes my body. Then I'm up and ready to go, feeling good instead of just dragging
myself along.'
Finding that balance in physical conditioning is a key ingredient to success for a professional
athlete. For Michael, his spiritual conditioning is even more crucial. `I do a Bible study first thing
in the morning and also at night,' says Chang. `Throughout the day I'll pray whenever, because the
Lord is always there. He teaches me a lot through circumstances in my life, whether it's through a
tennis match or some other thing that's going on.'
The Chang family also helps him keep his focus by providing him with invaluable spiritual support
and encouragement. Michael is often joined on the Tour by his parents, Joe and Betty, his older
brother and coach, Carl, and Carl's wife, Diana. `We sometimes have our own Bible studies
together and we sit down as a family to pray before each match,' Michael says.
Being brought up in a strong Christian family has helped Chang to approach tennis with the right
focus. His mother explains: `Because of our Christian background, we believe in doing our best and
letting God take care of the rest. With that mentality, Michael does not put that much pressure on
himself. He prepares as best as he knows how and it's up to the Lord to guide him on that particular
day.'
`For me,' Michael says, `I've come to realise that I need to go out and play my best tennis. The
winning and losing is out of my control and into higher hands. I know that everything happens for a
reason. I realise that I'm not going to be able to win every match, but I know that if I work my
hardest on the practice court, and play the best I can in a match, that's all people can ask of me.
That's all I can ask of myself. The Lord only wants your best.'
Victory isn't always on Chang's side, but with his words after losing the final of the 1996 Australian
Open, he showed that he is on the ultimate winning side: `...last and most importantly, I would like
to thank the Lord Jesus because, without him, I wouldn't have the talent to play - and it's to him that
I give the glory.'
Michael Chang
