WEBVTT - The Sit-Down with Michael Chang

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<v Speaker 1>Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the sit Down.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Matrolope, a writer for oz open dot com.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm viv Christian, managing editor of Australian Tennis magazine

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<v Speaker 2>and Matt. Why are we sitting down this week with

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<v Speaker 2>Michael Chang.

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<v Speaker 1>We're pretty fortunate to get Michael this week because it's

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<v Speaker 1>a very relevant time of year for him. We're currently

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<v Speaker 1>watching the Cincinnati tournament and he's a two time champion

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<v Speaker 1>there and actually made four consecutive Cincinnati finals. He was

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<v Speaker 1>also a Canada champion, he made the US Open finals,

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<v Speaker 1>so this was kind of a time of year where

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<v Speaker 1>he thrived in his legendary career. He won thirty four

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<v Speaker 1>titles and more than half of them came on US soil.

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<v Speaker 1>So he was kind of the perfect person to pick

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<v Speaker 1>his brain about tennis at this time of year.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely, And while we were looking forward with Michael Chang,

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<v Speaker 2>I was actually looking back a little bit as well,

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<v Speaker 2>because he was the first interview I did with an

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<v Speaker 2>international player at the very start of my tennis journalist

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<v Speaker 2>All wow, So he was as generous now as he

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<v Speaker 2>was with his time. Then let's have a listen to

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<v Speaker 2>what he had to say.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you Michael Chang for joining us on the sit

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<v Speaker 1>down today. It's great to have you.

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<v Speaker 3>Thank you. Nice to be here.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a great time of year two chat to

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<v Speaker 1>you because we're now post Olympics into the swing of

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<v Speaker 1>the North American hard court season and it's kind of

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the US Open is rapidly approaching. And when

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<v Speaker 1>we look back at your career, your first and final

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<v Speaker 1>titles in nineteen eighty eight and two thousand both came

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<v Speaker 1>on American So one was in the first was in

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<v Speaker 1>San France, the second was in LA And more than

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<v Speaker 1>half of your career titles came in the US. So

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<v Speaker 1>I just wondered what helped you play or helped you

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<v Speaker 1>find your best tennis on home soil.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean, I you know, I grew up in California.

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<v Speaker 3>Everybody who grows up in California players are hard courts,

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<v Speaker 3>and you know, it's a surface that I'm most familiar with.

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<v Speaker 3>My biggest title obviously came on clay, but majority of

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<v Speaker 3>my of my my victories have come on hard court.

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<v Speaker 3>Is something very similar to it, you know, it's interest

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<v Speaker 3>saying the uh, the hard courts do vary a little

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<v Speaker 3>bit throughout the summer summer swing, and then I mean,

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<v Speaker 3>I guess you can even count the spring as well,

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<v Speaker 3>because ine Wells and Miami are are two huge, you

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<v Speaker 3>know tournaments that are also you know, obviously happened in

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<v Speaker 3>the in the US on hard courts as well. But uh,

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<v Speaker 3>I mean I could I could almost go and and

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<v Speaker 3>talk to you about each hard court event and what

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<v Speaker 3>the tendencies are on on those services. I could tell

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<v Speaker 3>you what the weather's like in certain places. I will

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<v Speaker 3>tell you this, by far, year after year, the US

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<v Speaker 3>Open in New York is by far the fastest out

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<v Speaker 3>of all of the hard court services, without question. It's

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<v Speaker 3>actually probably one of maybe only two that I can

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<v Speaker 3>think of that I actually have not one in the US.

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<v Speaker 3>And you know, the solar slower services obviously would uh

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<v Speaker 3>suit me pretty well. The medium ones were pretty good,

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<v Speaker 3>but the ones that were tend to be you know yourself,

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<v Speaker 3>was just a little bit faster, certainly made it a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit more difficult for me to play against you know,

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<v Speaker 3>big servers, especially on days that they served really well,

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<v Speaker 3>like a Sam person the you know, in the finals

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<v Speaker 3>of of ninety six, or or losing the pat rafter,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, in ninety seven. So yeah, but I could

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<v Speaker 3>almost literally tell you what each of those tournaments are

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<v Speaker 3>like speed wise and and what to expect.

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<v Speaker 1>It's fascinating you should say that you've kind of predicted

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit. My next question this particular part of

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<v Speaker 1>the season. You won Canada and you won since E twice,

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<v Speaker 1>and they're the ones that are kind of happening right now.

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<v Speaker 1>We've also heard that this part of the season is

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<v Speaker 1>like it's pretty brutal, like humidity, the hate. It's also

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<v Speaker 1>coming like, you know, eight months into a long year.

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<v Speaker 1>What does it take to thrive at this topic you

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<v Speaker 1>because clearly you did.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean Cincinnati was a was a great stop for me.

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<v Speaker 3>I actually got to the finals four straight years. Actually,

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<v Speaker 3>so I have won. I won twice, but I lost

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<v Speaker 3>twice as well. But you're absolutely right. The conditions there

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<v Speaker 3>are absolutely absolutely brutal. They can be usually in all

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<v Speaker 3>of these places there there tends to be one or

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<v Speaker 3>two days in the afternoon where it just gets so

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<v Speaker 3>hot and then thunderstorms come and they cool it off

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<v Speaker 3>just for a little bit, but it is very hot,

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<v Speaker 3>very humid. You know. I I can recall, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>quite a few guys you know, having you know, heat issues,

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<v Speaker 3>cramping issues, and I was certainly I was certainly one

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<v Speaker 3>of them, and uh yeah, it was just not not

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<v Speaker 3>that easy to to deal with. But I think I

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<v Speaker 3>think this day and age, I think the players are

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<v Speaker 3>I think they're a little bit better shape. I think

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<v Speaker 3>they're a little bit more well prepared. I think they're

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<v Speaker 3>more educated as well. Uh So I don't think the

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<v Speaker 3>heat is as much of a factor just because I

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<v Speaker 3>think the players are are a lot more well prepared.

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<v Speaker 2>Michael, you are obviously famous for wing Roland Gross, but

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<v Speaker 2>you actually won the most matches at a major at

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<v Speaker 2>the US Open and went deep at that Grand Slam

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<v Speaker 2>so many times. What was it like to play in

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<v Speaker 2>New York?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, in New York is exciting. I think for

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<v Speaker 3>any American, you know, this is our home Grand Slam.

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<v Speaker 3>The New York atmosphere is very unique. You know, there's

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of hustle and bustle. You know, there's a

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<v Speaker 3>lot of uh, there's a lot of noise, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of planes flying overhead, just a lot of activity.

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<v Speaker 3>And generally speaking, players that that go to to New York,

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<v Speaker 3>they need a little time to actually to kind of

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<v Speaker 3>get used to the environment there because it is so

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<v Speaker 3>different from from a lot of these the other tournaments,

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<v Speaker 3>very different from obviously the other the other Slams as well.

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<v Speaker 3>But at the same time, you know, in New York

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<v Speaker 3>is an exciting place, especially if you're playing matches at night,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, where the crowd just really can really get

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<v Speaker 3>into matches. And and uh yeah, I played some some

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<v Speaker 3>really late night matches there. I played one match, you

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<v Speaker 3>know with McEnroe in ninety one where we finished at

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<v Speaker 3>like one thirty in the morning, and John being from

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<v Speaker 3>New York, you know, made it even more Uh we

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<v Speaker 3>even made it more electrifying to to be able to

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<v Speaker 3>play him there. So it's a it's a special place.

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<v Speaker 3>But you gotta love the atmosphere, you gotta love the excitement,

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<v Speaker 3>and and you got to be able to still at

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<v Speaker 3>the same time, you know, be focused and stay focused

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<v Speaker 3>because there are a lot of distractions.

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<v Speaker 2>Was it your favorite Grand Slam?

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know if necessarily in certain aspects it was.

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<v Speaker 3>I have a family there, so it was nice to

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<v Speaker 3>be able to have to, uh to stay with family,

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<v Speaker 3>and also to to have family come out and support.

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<v Speaker 3>But like I said, I mean each each Grand Slam

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<v Speaker 3>has a different flavor to it. Uh. You know, the

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<v Speaker 3>Australian Open, I know, is a favorite for so many

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<v Speaker 3>players because you know, it's a very relaxed atmosphere. It

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<v Speaker 3>almost doesn't feel like a Grand Slam, which is which

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<v Speaker 3>is what what a lot of the players enjoy. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>you stay pretty close to uh, you know, to the

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<v Speaker 3>main site.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh.

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<v Speaker 3>The French is you know, very emotional. You know, people

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<v Speaker 3>love to see your your your emotion, whether you're upset,

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<v Speaker 3>whether you're whether you're happy. Uh, you know, and obviously

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<v Speaker 3>Wimbledon is very has their complete you know, different kind

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<v Speaker 3>of environment, different kind of uh flavor to it. And

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<v Speaker 3>but yeah, I mean I had certain aspects, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>because it is the US Open, because I'm American. Uh yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>in many ways it was my my favorite. But you know,

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<v Speaker 3>obviously the French will always always have a special place

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<v Speaker 3>in my art.

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<v Speaker 2>You reach the nineteen ninety six US Open final the

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<v Speaker 2>same year that you reached the Australian Open final. Was

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<v Speaker 2>that the season when you felt you were at your peak?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean pretty close to it. You know, I

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<v Speaker 3>was playing some some very very good tennis. I don't

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<v Speaker 3>know if you if you know this, but that ninety

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<v Speaker 3>six US Open, I was literally one point away actually

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<v Speaker 3>from becoming number one in the world. So obviously the finals,

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<v Speaker 3>had I beat Pete Sampers in the finals, I would

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<v Speaker 3>have been US Open champion. But I also would have

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<v Speaker 3>been number one in the world. But there was a

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<v Speaker 3>round of sixteen match. I believe that Pete Sampras played

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<v Speaker 3>against Alice Correccia and they went five sets. He was

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<v Speaker 3>throwing up in the fifth set. Koresha actually had a

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<v Speaker 3>had a match point and had he converted on that

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<v Speaker 3>match point, I would have been number one in the world.

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<v Speaker 3>So and then obviously wouldn't have played Pete in the finals.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, probably you know, probably one of the tougher

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<v Speaker 3>players to play in that day and age, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>because of the the court speed and and the surface.

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<v Speaker 3>But but yeah, I mean I was playing very well

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<v Speaker 3>that year, you know, and uh yeah, I mean it

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<v Speaker 3>was a it was a good run for me and

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<v Speaker 3>unfortunately just came up a little bit short.

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<v Speaker 1>It's interesting you mentioned that story about being one point

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<v Speaker 1>away because I read that recently at an interview you

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<v Speaker 1>did with Chris Clary and I was just about to

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<v Speaker 1>quote to you another part of that interview you said

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<v Speaker 1>to it was a really good chat. You said to him,

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<v Speaker 1>I look at my career and I'm incredibly blessed. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>so thankful I had the opportunity to play the tournaments

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<v Speaker 1>that I played at the age in which I played.

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<v Speaker 1>So I was we were just wondering what the tournaments

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<v Speaker 1>you were referring to and what was it about that

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<v Speaker 1>era that made you feel thankful?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean, I think our generation for American players

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<v Speaker 3>was very special. Honestly, I don't know if it will

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<v Speaker 3>ever be duplicated, you know. So I'm the youngest actually

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<v Speaker 3>of our generation, you know, which includes uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>Pete Sampras, Andre Agascy, Jim Currier, you know, Malady Washington,

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<v Speaker 3>Todd Martin. This is all of our our generation. And

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<v Speaker 3>you know, I think what we've uh, you know, accomplished collectively,

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know if it will ever be be duplicated. So,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, I think that made it very special. And

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<v Speaker 3>then to have the opportunity to play against so many

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<v Speaker 3>great generations of players. You know, when we first came out,

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<v Speaker 3>it was the Lindell you know, McEnroe, O'Connor's generation, Uh,

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<v Speaker 3>the generation after that, which was you know, Boris Becker,

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<v Speaker 3>Stefan Edbergh, obviously our own generation which also includes uh,

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<v Speaker 3>Sergey brigera uh Goran Ivanizovitch, and then uh and then

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<v Speaker 3>obviously the generation after that, which is Leyton Hewitt, Rod

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<v Speaker 3>Soffen and Roger Fetter. So you know, it's a it's

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<v Speaker 3>a pretty incredible, you know general, pretty incredible group of players,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, spanning those generations, and uh, it was it

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<v Speaker 3>was very unique and and challenging obviously, but difficult at

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<v Speaker 3>the same time. We had such a mix of players,

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<v Speaker 3>whether they were baseliners, whether they were attackers, whether they

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<v Speaker 3>were certain voliers, chip and chargers. You don't see that

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<v Speaker 3>actually as much of this at this day and age.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, I couldn't even tell you. I couldn't even

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<v Speaker 3>tell you three guys in the top ten or top

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<v Speaker 3>one hundred now on the ATV Tour that are that

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<v Speaker 3>are certain voliers. It's that it's that different now. So yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>I mean it was a very special time. Certainly there

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<v Speaker 3>were a lot of great competitors, which which certainly made

0:11:36.720 --> 0:11:39.480
<v Speaker 3>it more difficult to win, you know, big tournaments and

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<v Speaker 3>win majors. But I certainly don't have any have any regrets,

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<v Speaker 3>because you know, have the opportunity to play against some

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<v Speaker 3>of those great players was really really exciting. I missed

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<v Speaker 3>beor on Board by just a little bit because he

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<v Speaker 3>retired early and Novak hadn't gotten on tour at Rafa

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<v Speaker 3>was just playing challengers at the time, So I missed

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<v Speaker 3>those two guys by just a little bit.

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<v Speaker 1>So when whilst your last year was at three two

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<v Speaker 1>three three, okay, yeah, yeah, it's amazing what those names

0:12:09.240 --> 0:12:11.880
<v Speaker 1>you mentioned and what you spanned. It's it's incredible you've

0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:14.240
<v Speaker 1>always played them all. We have one more question for

0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:16.559
<v Speaker 1>you if you if there's time, and it was just

0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:19.680
<v Speaker 1>more about kind of the current era of tennis because

0:12:19.760 --> 0:12:23.920
<v Speaker 1>we're in this transition period. We've had that incredible period

0:12:23.960 --> 0:12:28.679
<v Speaker 1>of goats basically Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Serena, and one by

0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:31.360
<v Speaker 1>one they're moving on from the game, which of course

0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:33.440
<v Speaker 1>is going to happen. They've all had such long careers,

0:12:33.520 --> 0:12:35.480
<v Speaker 1>but at the same time, we've actually got.

0:12:35.440 --> 0:12:38.480
<v Speaker 3>A generation is going to stop yet. Actually, actually I

0:12:38.480 --> 0:12:40.640
<v Speaker 3>don't think he's going to ever stop. I ever stopped.

0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:44.319
<v Speaker 1>Well, he said he was targeting the LA Olympics.

0:12:46.320 --> 0:12:50.040
<v Speaker 3>What he's done is just absolutely incredible. But you're absolutely right.

0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:53.000
<v Speaker 3>I mean they're you know, we've had this this generation

0:12:53.120 --> 0:12:58.079
<v Speaker 3>of players, you know, Roger, you know, Rafos winding his

0:12:58.240 --> 0:13:03.240
<v Speaker 3>career down, Andy retired, you know, Serena retired not that

0:13:03.400 --> 0:13:07.599
<v Speaker 3>long ago. I mean, you've got these incredible players, and

0:13:07.760 --> 0:13:14.240
<v Speaker 3>thankfully we've got great young talent that they were able

0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:16.040
<v Speaker 3>to take their place, and they're doing a great job.

0:13:16.360 --> 0:13:19.679
<v Speaker 3>They really really are. You know, I mean, how can

0:13:19.720 --> 0:13:23.480
<v Speaker 3>you not uh enjoy watching Alcarez out there. I mean,

0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:27.079
<v Speaker 3>he's winning, but he's smiling. At the same time, Sinner,

0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:31.199
<v Speaker 3>you know, young Sinner is just incredible talent, you know,

0:13:31.360 --> 0:13:34.480
<v Speaker 3>very humble, uh and has got all the all the

0:13:34.520 --> 0:13:36.959
<v Speaker 3>different kinds of shots. You know, So how do you

0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:40.719
<v Speaker 3>not uh, you know, enjoy watching this new generation you know,

0:13:41.240 --> 0:13:43.679
<v Speaker 3>kind of grow and mature and and really start to

0:13:43.720 --> 0:13:47.120
<v Speaker 3>take their uh their place. But like you said, I mean,

0:13:47.120 --> 0:13:50.760
<v Speaker 3>at the same time, what Novak is doing, what he

0:13:50.880 --> 0:13:56.640
<v Speaker 3>has done, is mind boggling, absolutely mind boggling, even even

0:13:56.640 --> 0:14:00.120
<v Speaker 3>in these past you know, a few months uh for

0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:04.319
<v Speaker 3>him to play at the French you know, get surgery

0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:08.760
<v Speaker 3>immediately after his uh after his last match there, and

0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:11.599
<v Speaker 3>then to go into to play and and get to

0:14:11.679 --> 0:14:15.040
<v Speaker 3>the finals of Wimbledon is one thing, but then to

0:14:15.120 --> 0:14:19.120
<v Speaker 3>come back and beat Alcarez, you know, on clay at

0:14:19.160 --> 0:14:23.840
<v Speaker 3>the Olympics, at roal on Garos, I mean, I mean,

0:14:24.240 --> 0:14:26.600
<v Speaker 3>how do you I mean, I have no words for it.

0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:29.560
<v Speaker 3>It's just incredible. And he's doing it at that at

0:14:29.720 --> 0:14:34.560
<v Speaker 3>is thirty seven years old. It's just phenomenal. So h

0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:36.120
<v Speaker 3>but I think it's been great to be able to

0:14:36.160 --> 0:14:38.360
<v Speaker 3>have these guys play for as long as they did

0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:41.240
<v Speaker 3>because it was so good for the game and and

0:14:42.520 --> 0:14:45.000
<v Speaker 3>and you know, I think tennis is in really really

0:14:45.040 --> 0:14:50.360
<v Speaker 3>good hands right now. Well, viv fascinating to hear.

0:14:50.400 --> 0:14:53.800
<v Speaker 1>Michael finished the interview talking about how mind boggling Novak's

0:14:53.800 --> 0:14:56.800
<v Speaker 1>achievements are because I found it really interesting earlier in

0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:59.120
<v Speaker 1>the interview how he talked about he played so many

0:14:59.200 --> 0:15:02.680
<v Speaker 1>generations that overlapped, but he'd narrowly missed beyond Borg and

0:15:02.760 --> 0:15:04.880
<v Speaker 1>he at the other end of his career he finished

0:15:04.920 --> 0:15:08.560
<v Speaker 1>in three. He narrowly missed me and facing Novak Djokovic,

0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:11.680
<v Speaker 1>who I think first appeared on tour around four to five.

0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:13.720
<v Speaker 1>You can just hear that he would have loved to

0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:16.000
<v Speaker 1>have played Novak, given how much respect he has for

0:15:16.080 --> 0:15:17.120
<v Speaker 1>what Novak's doing right now.

0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:19.880
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that was very interesting to me too. I love

0:15:20.000 --> 0:15:23.400
<v Speaker 2>hearing about when the generations do overlap in tennis. And

0:15:24.240 --> 0:15:27.680
<v Speaker 2>didn't he compete in an incredible era and constructor a

0:15:27.720 --> 0:15:29.360
<v Speaker 2>wonderful career in that time. Yeah.

0:15:29.400 --> 0:15:31.600
<v Speaker 3>Absolutely. And we'll be back next.

0:15:31.520 --> 0:15:34.360
<v Speaker 2>Monday when we sit down with Simon Ray, who is

0:15:34.480 --> 0:15:37.360
<v Speaker 2>the former coach of Nick Kurios and Sam Stozer and

0:15:37.520 --> 0:15:41.120
<v Speaker 2>now a data analyst at Tennis Australia. And in the meantime,

0:15:41.240 --> 0:15:43.320
<v Speaker 2>you can listen to John and the team on this

0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:45.560
<v Speaker 2>Thursday on the Aoshow Weekly.

0:15:45.720 --> 0:15:47.920
<v Speaker 1>And details for how to contact us aras always in

0:15:48.000 --> 0:15:51.080
<v Speaker 1>the show notes below, and please subscribe, rate and review.

0:15:51.200 --> 0:15:52.880
<v Speaker 1>We'll see you next week, Viv look forward to it,

0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:53.160
<v Speaker 1>Matt