Michael Chang Interview

[britbox]

Hi guys,

Michael Chang has agreed to do an interview with the Tennis Frontier, so rather than simply asking him questions myself, I thought people could submit their own questions here and I'll ask them on your behalf.

I'll keep it down to around 10 in total so maybe won't be able to accommodate everybody but stick your questions down on this thread and I'll do my best.

 

[Iona16]

Hi guys,

Michael Chang has agreed to do an interview with the Tennis Frontier, so rather than simply asking him questions myself, I thought people could submit their own questions here and I'll ask them on your behalf.

I'll keep it down to around 10 in total so maybe won't be able to accommodate everybody but stick your questions down on this thread and I'll do my best.

That's fantastic news BB. Will try and think of a question.

 

[Moxie]

Excellent! Me, too.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

"Have you ever sat down with Lendl and talk about the 89 RG match and if so, is he over it yet?"

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

YEH..LOL, how did it feel to mentally own lendl..who'd recently returned to world no 1.

destroying lendls head and seeing him collapse into a cesspit of arguing with the ump and serving double faults at matchpoint down.

 

[Didi]

It might be a too obvious question for someone like Chang but for what it's worth, what does he think, the youngest slam champion in the Open Era after all, are the reasons why there are no more teenage slam champions or teenager sensations in general like himself, Borg, Becker, Mats, Rafa etc.? And if we are ever going to get to see the likes of them again.

Edit: Great job Britbox. Kudos for getting an interview with a Hall of Famer! Wow.

 

[Mog]

Very delighted to hear this britbox.
Excellent job.
Regarding that RG match with Lendl, Lendl lost it. I watched the whole match and I could not believe it.

 

[Moxie]

I would think he's been asked about that Lendl match ad nauseum, but maybe Murat's angle is fresh, i.e., have they ever talked about it since?

I was thinking about things apropos of his career that are specific preoccupations that we have on these boards:

* He was a "youngest-ever" to do a lot of things in his career, most notably, win a Major. I'd wonder what he thought the pressures were specific to winning things so young, and if he has any theory as to why there are so few teenagers featuring in the game, now.

* He's 5'9", (same as Ferrer, btw.) I wonder what he thinks about the advent of the Tall-Man's game. (If that's not awkward to ask.)

* He is Taiwanese-American. When he won the FO it was right after the Tiananmen Square events, and he spoke about it publicly in his speech. I would be interested to know if he has an opinion about the recent rise in popularity of tennis in China, and perhaps Asia, in general. (Again, no need to ask if it seems awkward. However, as I note, he has spoken about that specifically.)

* We talk about the homogenization of surfaces around here. I'd wonder if he had an opinion on that.

Just some ideas, but they do dove-tail with conversations we have here, and I think that would not only, a) offer some fresh things for him to talk about, but, b) address the preoccupations of our members.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Very delighted to hear this britbox.
Excellent job.
Regarding that RG match with Lendl, Lendl lost it. I watched the whole match and I could not believe it.

No kidding...I was supporting Chang in that match, but then he went on to beat Edberg and that was just unforgivable...Edberg could have won his career slam man...I was upset that day.:nono

 

[Moxie]

It might be a too obvious question for someone like Chang but for what it's worth, what does he think, the youngest slam champion in the Open Era after all, are the reasons why there are no more teenage slam champions or teenager sensations in general like himself, Borg, Becker, Mats, Rafa etc.? And if we are ever going to get to see the likes of them again.

Edit: Great job Britbox. Kudos for getting an interview with a Hall of Famer! Wow.

We had the same idea on this one, Didi. And yes, great snag by BB.

 

[brokenshoelace]

What would he do differently if he were competing in today's game?

 

[Front242]

Looking forward to reading this interview. Great work britbox. At work and my break is almost over but I'll try and think of some questions later. Some great ones already raised though.

 

[tented]

You get the phone call: Annacone is out, Federer wants you. As his new coach, what aspects of his game would you work on?

 

[Front242]

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this), how does he actually see it compared to when he was on tour? Since he played in an era when they definitely played faster he can vouch that today's predominantly baseline oriented game is a lot different so it'd be nice to hear his thoughts on court speed changes since then.

Edit: I see Moxie already touched on that so sorry for not seeing that first but it's definitely something I'd like to hear about and probably many others too.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this)

It's actually those who claim this who are unable to provide any proof. Wimbledon has been slowed down. We know that because it's a fact. Everyone acknowledges it. But how is the AO slowed down, or especially, the US Open?

The Australian Open is a medium paced court. Just compare it to say, Indian Wells and notice the difference.

The courts have been slowed down in two ways: Grass has been slowed down, and indoor carpet has been removed (really unfortunate IMO). Everything else is pretty much intact. What people don't understand is that they watch the US Open in a year like say, 2011, and see the courts playing slow, and immediately yell "courts have been slowed down!" when in fact, the ball change was what really slowed things down that year. What they conveniently ignore is the courts playing lightning fast the previous year, as well as this year. Ironically, the winner was, erm... Nadal.

Go back to the beginning of this US Open, and see everyone commenting on how fasts the courts were playing.

 

[shawnbm]

"What single trait has been responsible, in your view, for the level of sustained dominance by Federer and Nadal for so long?"

 

[Moxie]

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this), how does he actually see it compared to when he was on tour? Since he played in an era when they definitely played faster he can vouch that today's predominantly baseline oriented game is a lot different so it'd be nice to hear his thoughts on court speed changes since then.

Edit: I see Moxie already touched on that so sorry for not seeing that first but it's definitely something I'd like to hear about and probably many others too.

No, I think it's good to reiterate what you think are good questions so BB can prioritize them.

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this)

It's actually those who claim this who are unable to provide any proof. Wimbledon has been slowed down. We know that because it's a fact. Everyone acknowledges it. But how is the AO slowed down, or especially, the US Open?

The Australian Open is a medium paced court. Just compare it to say, Indian Wells and notice the difference.

The courts have been slowed down in two ways: Grass has been slowed down, and indoor carpet has been removed (really unfortunate IMO). Everything else is pretty much intact. What people don't understand is that they watch the US Open in a year like say, 2011, and see the courts playing slow, and immediately yell "courts have been slowed down!" when in fact, the ball change was what really slowed things down that year. What they conveniently ignore is the courts playing lightning fast the previous year, as well as this year. Ironically, the winner was, erm... Nadal.

Go back to the beginning of this US Open, and see everyone commenting on how fasts the courts were playing.

That's why it's an interesting question, IMO, because the question would be firstly IF he thinks they have. It would be good to hear from a player who retired only about 10 years ago.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this), how does he actually see it compared to when he was on tour? Since he played in an era when they definitely played faster he can vouch that today's predominantly baseline oriented game is a lot different so it'd be nice to hear his thoughts on court speed changes since then.

Edit: I see Moxie already touched on that so sorry for not seeing that first but it's definitely something I'd like to hear about and probably many others too.

No, I think it's good to reiterate what you think are good questions so BB can prioritize them.

Given how there's so much talk of the courts slowing down over the years (despite some denying this)

It's actually those who claim this who are unable to provide any proof. Wimbledon has been slowed down. We know that because it's a fact. Everyone acknowledges it. But how is the AO slowed down, or especially, the US Open?

The Australian Open is a medium paced court. Just compare it to say, Indian Wells and notice the difference.

The courts have been slowed down in two ways: Grass has been slowed down, and indoor carpet has been removed (really unfortunate IMO). Everything else is pretty much intact. What people don't understand is that they watch the US Open in a year like say, 2011, and see the courts playing slow, and immediately yell "courts have been slowed down!" when in fact, the ball change was what really slowed things down that year. What they conveniently ignore is the courts playing lightning fast the previous year, as well as this year. Ironically, the winner was, erm... Nadal.

Go back to the beginning of this US Open, and see everyone commenting on how fasts the courts were playing.

That's why it's an interesting question, IMO, because the question would be firstly IF he thinks they have. It would be good to hear from a player who retired only about 10 years ago.

It absolutely is an interesting question. I was merely responding to the "some continue to deny it" part.

 

[Srini]

Great, looking forward to the interview!

 

[britbox]

Last call for questions...