Youngest male player to win Grand Slam title
Similar to other tennis professionals, Michael Chang started at a young age. However, unlike others, Michael stood out by winning many matches and titles at an even younger age, such as winning his first national title at 12 and becoming the youngest to win a main draw match. In addition, Chang became the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam title when he beat Stefan Edberg in the 1989 French Open at 17. He was the #15 seed entering the tournament and would defeat the #1 seed, Ivan Lendl, in the fourth round and then the #3 seed Stefan in the finals.
His match against Ivan is legendary for Chang overcoming his calf and thigh cramps to win after being down two sets. Nevertheless, near the end of the fourth set, he would have to change his game to incorporate more "moon shots" while rehydrating by drinking water and eating bananas. At one point in the third game of the fifth set, Chang couldn't move due to his dehydrated body. Michael overcame his body and age to beat Lendl and eventually win the French Open.
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Quotes
I started to say to myself: 'Who am I kidding here? I'm 17 years old and I'm playing against the No 1 player in the world. It wouldn't be so bad to just call it a day.'
Michael Chang
You could see how exhausted he was at the end. That was sort of his breakthrough,...Everybody always roots for the underdog, so I wanted Michael to win, even though I liked Ivan Lendl growing up.
Dirk Nowitzki
References
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Pause, rewind, play: When 17-year-old Michael Chang stunned Lendl and Edberg to win French Open
At 17 years and 110 days, Chang had become the youngest ever male player to win a Grand Slam. He was the first American man to win at Roland Garros since Tony Trabert in 1955. It was to be the first and only Major victory of Chang’s career.
Scroll.in
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The Day Chang Stunned Lendl At Roland Garros: 'It Was About Survival'
At 4-3, 15/30, Chang was desperate. His legs were locking up, and he hit the only underhand serve of his career. Lendl approached the net, and Chang hit a forehand pass that his opponent couldn’t handle.
ATP Tour
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Asian-American Spotlight: Michael Chang
Over his 16-year career, Chang won a total of 34 singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world. He was also a year-end Top 10 player for six consecutive years (1992-97).
USTA
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How Michael Chang defeated Ivan Lendl at the French Open in 1989
Over three and a half hours on court had taken its toll on Chang, his calfs and thighs tightening up under the strain, greatly restricting his freedom of movement. Although Chang immediately broke Lendl in the fifth set, his dehydration was such that he tried desperately to play catch-up, drinking water and consuming bananas at increasingly regular intervals to fix the problem. It was starting to look like a fight that the youngster was losing.
The Guardian
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Quitting was an option, but Chang chose another
Michael Chang almost quit. The tennis champion who never threw in the towel almost walked out on the defining match of his career. It was the fourth round at the 1989 French Open, and the 17-year-old Chang already had defied long odds by pushing Ivan Lendl, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, to a deciding fifth set.
Los Angeles Times
