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Michael Depei Chang (born February 22, 1972) is an American tennis player. He became 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 defensive baseliners of all time. He also introduced the jumping two-handed backhand. He remained in the top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at World No. 2.
Chang was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1972 to Joe (張洪笙) and Betty (董良因, née Tung). His parents are b
Michael Depei Chang (born February 22, 1972) is an American tennis player. He became 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 defensive baseliners of all time. He also introduced the jumping two-handed backhand. He remained in the top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at World No. 2.
Chang was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1972 to Joe (張洪笙) and Betty (董良因, née Tung). His parents are both Taiwanese and were educated in the United States, where they met; Betty moved to the US in 1959 and Joe in 1966. They were introduced by a mutual friend. Betty was born in Delhi, India as the daughter of Michael Tung (董宗山), then serving as diplomat of the Republic of China to India. Michael then had served in the Taiwanese Congress Legislative Yuan and was Ambassador of Taiwan to Cambodia and Dominic Republic/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines among other diplomatic posts in 1960s to 1980s. Joe was born in Chaozhou, China, and moved to Taiwan at age seven. Michael's Chinese name (simplified Chinese: 张德培; traditional Chinese: 張德培; pinyin: Zhāng Dépéi) was chosen by Joe, and his English name by Betty (who named him after her father).
After moving from Hoboken, New Jersey to Placentia, California, the Changs moved to Encinitas, California. Chang dropped out of Grade 10 at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, California, after passing his GED in February 1988 in order to pursue a professional tennis career.
Chang was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
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