Young achievers

Michael Chang The youngest to win a Grand Slam title:

Michael Chang

Country: United States

Date of birth: February 22, 1972 (age 38)
Place of birth: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 73 kg
Turned pro:1988
Retired: 2003
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $19,145,632
10th All-time leader in earnings

Singles

Career record: 662-312 (68% at ATP Tour, Grand
Prix tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles: 34
Highest ranking: 2 (September 9, 1996)

Grand Slam results

Australian Open: Finalist (1996)
French Open: Winner (1989)
Wimbledon: Quarter Finalist (1994)
US Open: Finalist (1996)

Doubles

Career record: 11-33 (25% at ATP Tour, Grand
Prix tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Highest ranking: 199 (April 19, 1993)

Michael Te-Pei Chang who was born in February 22, 1972, in Hoboken, New Jersey is a former American professional tennis player. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17.

Known for his on-court speed and fighting spirit, Chang is considered by many observers to have been one of the best tennis counter-punchers of all time. He remained in the Top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at World No. 2. Chang was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.

Chang first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player who set numerous 'youngest-ever' records. He won his first national title, the USTA Junior Hard Court singles, at the age of 12. Aged 13, he won the Fiesta Bowl 16s.

Two years later, aged 15, Chang won the USTA Boys 18s Hardcourts and the Boys 18s Nationals, and became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open when he defeated Paul McNamee in four sets in the first round.

A month later he reached the semifinals at Scottsdale, Arizona to become the youngest player to reach the semifinal stage of a top-level professional tournament. He won his first top-level singles title in 1988 at San Francisco, aged 16 years and seven months.

Chang's most significant youngest-ever record came in 1989 when he won the French Open at the age of 17 years and three 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 (see below). Chang became the first American man to win the French Open since 1955. And in August 1989, Chang became the youngest player to be ranked in the world's top-five on the men's singles rankings.

WIKIPEDIA