GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 12, 1999

Michael Chang

ATP: Questions for Michael.

MICHAEL CHANG: Actually, I didn't feel like it went that smoothly. Cedric was hot and cold today. I didn't really know what to expect from point to point. I think actually probably the key points in the match is probably the first two games and the last two games. Other than that, I think Cedric had quite a few unforced errors. But he also hit some unbelievable shots today. It was tough to figure out what was actually going to happen. Just tried to stay tough out there, tried to make the most of my opportunities. I felt like I still needed to be aggressive. Cedric is the type of player where once he starts getting into a rhythm, if you give him any kind of sitting ball, he's going to knock it away for a winner. I knew for me it was important to definitely keep my errors down, but also keep him off balance as well.

MICHAEL CHANG: Yeah, it feels great. I haven't felt like this for quite awhile. It's been awhile since I've been able to string together some matches. I think when you're finally able to do it, it feels good. This tournament has been a great tournament for me. To be able to string some good matches here against tough players, definitely a lot of confidence.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think Pat had an unbelievable summer last year. He almost virtually won everything. I know he's playing some good tennis, particularly since Rome this year, all the way through the French and Wimbledon and Davis Cup. He's playing some good tennis, he's playing some tough tennis. I'm looking forward to it. We haven't played for quite some time. We have had some pretty tough matches. It will be nice. I'm looking forward to it.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think it's going to be important for me to play solid all-around tennis. I know, definitely, I have to be able to play well in all areas. That's going to be important. It's going to be important to return serve very well. If I'm able to do that and take advantage of my opportunities that are given to me, it's going to definitely help me out.

MICHAEL CHANG: It's kind of odd because actually the first time I played him, I lost to him. I think definitely over the years, obviously he's improved quite a bit. I haven't played him since the Davis Cup semifinal two years ago, so it's been awhile. So for this period of time where he's had this stretch of great runs, reaching No. 1, I haven't really gotten a taste of that Pat Rafter. You know, I've been watching him quite a bit, obviously. I think everybody has. He's improved tremendously in a lot of different areas.

MICHAEL CHANG: No, I don't think so. You know, I know his game pretty well. I think he knows my game pretty well. I don't think there's going to be any total surprises or anything. It's not like he's going to serve and stay back, I'm going to serve-and-volley and chip-and-charge. That would be interesting, wouldn't it (laughter)? I know it's going to be a tough match. Nobody has any easy matches here. That's just the bottom line.

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, you know, we'll take things step-by-step, little by little. I feel like for me, I don't want to be able to come out and say "I'm back," stuff like that. Like I said earlier in the week, there were times where I felt I was on my way back in particular matches, and it just didn't hold true. I'm just going to worry about, you know, on the court and concentrate on each point, allow things to happen the way that God planned. Really just take things in that kind of attitude, that kind of light. I think it probably suits me best.

MICHAEL CHANG: Absolutely.

MICHAEL CHANG: I can tell some things have gotten better. That's been very encouraging. I can feel some things a little bit mentally have been better. I mentioned attitude. That's something that has been very, very important. Perspective has been very, very important, particularly over the past few weeks. It's something that has helped me tremendously. I think that that is something that is very, very important. I also have a lot of people praying for me, which always helps. I'm excited to be on the court. It's nice to be able to do it here in Cincy, where I've had some good success.

MICHAEL CHANG: Yeah, definitely. I think we all have times where we just absolutely lose it. I probably get the most upset probably either with my dad or on the golf course, believe it or not. I don't know, the golf course, for some reason I have this mentality where, okay, it's one of those things where it's just me. If I'm playing a tennis match, I can say, "The guy hit a great shot." I'm not going to blame the clubs and things like that. The ball just doesn't move. I know if I chunk it or something like that, I know it's my fault, so I get pretty upset. I've been getting better, but I've had some times where I get pretty upset. Other than that, I think I'm pretty calm. I'm not a person that loses my temper very often. Yeah, I really don't lose my temper that often. But, you know, there are times, obviously on the practice court, where it's very, very frustrating. Yeah, we all have times.

MICHAEL CHANG: Mostly I think yelling. I think mostly yelling. I think probably I deal -- maybe I'm a little bit calmer on the outside than inside. I'm a person that internalizes everything, you know. I don't know if you guys know that. For some reason, for me, I'm able -- if something really bothers me, I deal with it inside first. I'm not a person -- some people just have to let it out.

MICHAEL CHANG: I deal with it inside first, try to think and analyze the whole situation, why did something happen, and look at it in that way.

MICHAEL CHANG: I have once.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think I missed a putt. I missed a putt. I think it was one of those crucial putts. It was like on a par 3. I get really excited.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think we'll leave that out (laughter).

MICHAEL CHANG: At times it was very, very difficult. I can't explain to you how difficult it is in words. Yeah, I mean, it was very, very tough. I think one of the things is because I didn't understand, you know, why things were happening the way that they did. Injuries kind of came out from nowhere. The knee was a freak accident. Then this year, I started off the year injury-free, with the frame of mind, "We're injury-free. Last year we had the excuse of injuries. This year I didn't have any injuries." I didn't understand everything. I think, to be quite honest with you, I think that's where faith comes into play. I think it's really true. I've learned to kind of stop complaining a little bit. That just doesn't do you any good. For a little while, maybe it helps you to deal with something, but after a while, you know, it just doesn't do you any good. It just eats at you inside and works at you from the inside out. Just kind of tears at you.

MICHAEL CHANG: One.

MICHAEL CHANG: Actually, I get along pretty well with all the guys, regardless of where they are ranking-wise. I knew quite a few of the players there in the Challenger. Obviously I think for me it took away a lot of pride. You are humbled quite a bit in that kind of situation. But I think humility is good. When you're humble, you learn a lot, you listen a little bit more. It can in many aspects -- you know, you're able to accomplish a lot more when you're humble than when you have pride.

MICHAEL CHANG: No, actually I didn't really think about it until I realized that the grass court season, I wasn't going to be able to play. It just so happened that Altos was there on the west coast, it was convenient, it worked out. If there wasn't a Challenger there on the west coast, I wouldn't have played. I know that Tom had mentioned to me there was another Challenger the week after in Ohio, and I didn't want to go there because I didn't want to travel to the east coast. Schedule-wise, it worked out well.

MICHAEL CHANG: No. No, we've never really talked, not in any depth and stuff. We practiced one time in Rome. He beat me pretty bad in Rome. He could see that I was really frustrated, going through some tough times. "Yeah, I've been there myself. I know how you feel."

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