US OPEN

September 6, 1997

Michael Chang

Q. Michael, were you tired after playing two 5-set matches in a row?

MICHAEL CHANG: No. No. Physically I was okay out there.

MICHAEL CHANG: Mentally I think I was okay. You know, I think that, you know, I was feeling pretty good out there. You know, it was just one of those tough days. Patrick played some great tennis today. You know, I think that I did actually have a few opportunities to get back in the match, get back into a couple of the sets. Just wasn't able to convert on some of those breakpoints. Obviously, if Patrick is serving the way that he is, it's important to be able to convert on a few of those.

MICHAEL CHANG: No. Actually, I felt great. You know, I was very tense before the quarterfinal match. Once I stepped out on the court, I was feeling pretty good. I knew I had a lot of friends, a lot of family praying for me. Today I was fairly calm. I had a lot of peace out there. I was up and prepared to play.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think those are the opportunities that are missed. I had opportunities, you know, very similar to that to get up, or to break back. Just, you know, wasn't able -- wasn't able to connect on those. This level of play, you know, those crucial points can really make a huge difference.

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, I mean, I know Patrick's capability. I've played him many time before. I know obviously besides being a great tennis player, he's a great athlete. You know, I think that he was playing, you know, great tennis throughout the last couple weeks, and even before that, because I played him in the Hamlet and lost to him there. By all means, he's definitely, I feel, playing some of the best tennis of his life.

MICHAEL CHANG: Meaning?

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, I think there's been a pretty big difference in his game, you know, over the past maybe six months or so. Because I played him in the Finals of Hong Kong and was able to beat him pretty comfortably there. So I'd say that, you know, he's definitely improved quite a bit. Either that or he's in a bit of a zone right now, in a sense. But, you know, he played some tough tennis today.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think he has a great opportunity. I think for both players it is a great opportunity to win a wonderful tournament. I think obviously tomorrow you're going to be seeing a lot of big serves. Once again, I think it's going to come down to those break opportunities, who is able to make the most of them.

MICHAEL CHANG: I'm not sure right now, to be honest with you, I'm really not sure. You know, I feel like, you know, you go through periods of stages. Sometimes you think, "You need to be stronger, you need to work on some things." You know, I felt like I was able to do that. Once again, maybe run into that word perseverance. I have hope that perseverance will pay off one day. You know, it's been tough, you know. I think, you know, to be able to come out and say that it's not tough, I'd be kidding you. You have opportunities to win a Grand Slam. You have chances whether you're in the semifinals or Finals on a few occasions. It is frustrating, it's disappointing. But, you know, somehow you've got to bounce back. Somehow you've got to keep your head up and keep on working at it. Obviously, I think that this is something that, at least in my life -- am I babbling here (laughter)? Next question. I'll tell you my life story right here.

MICHAEL CHANG: It's hard to compare. It is hard to compare, because each one is different. All I can tell you is they all hurt. I think that you have opportunities. This one may be more of an opportunity than other chances when I was in the Finals. You know, it's tough to compare. Each one is a little bit different.

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, you know, I think definitely Patrick did serve quite well, you know, today. Did make things a little bit difficult. I don't know if I played a serve and volleyer. Have I played a serve and volleyer the last couple weeks? That might have hurt me a little bit. I know I definitely played a lot of baseliners, didn't see a whole lot of big serves. Even if I did see big serves, it's a little bit different when the guy is coming in. Might have hurt me a little bit. You know, you got to go out and make the best out of, you know, what you got. You know, today, you know, that's definitely one department where I could have hurt him a lot more, and wasn't able to do so.

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, I think it's tough to say. Because I think on the chances that I had, I wasn't even getting the serve back. You know, I think on my break opportunities, I don't think I got many serves back. That's a difficult thing. You know, if I get the serve back, then I know I have an opportunity of being able to hit a passing shot. I don't really feel like anyone volleys like a guy like Edberg, for example, in his prime. In that sense, I'm not really afraid of anyone's first volley. You have to give him credit. He served well and mixed things up quite well.

MICHAEL CHANG: A little bit. In fact, I did change it up a little bit. I knew that he had a little bit of a pattern out there. I started to pick up on it a little bit. Still, you know, just wasn't able to get a clean hit. That was one aspect of today that was very frustrating. I knew in certain situations where he was going, and still wasn't able to get a good hit at it.

MICHAEL CHANG: No, because I'll have good memories to take them away. I'm being positive here.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think it's very fair to say. I think the French Open is another good example of that. Gustavo came from nowhere. He really didn't have all that great of a claycourt season. All of a sudden, he played some unbelievable tennis at the French. You know, I think this last couple weeks has been a little bit of the same case. I think Patrick has been playing well, but not to the point where, you know, people were saying, "He's not in the Top 5, but he's a heavy favorite going in." It's not like that. So I think part of it is the depth of men's tennis. Part of it is that, you know, for some reason, they're just able to really put things together quite well over these past two weeks.

MICHAEL CHANG: Yes, I do believe so. I think that, you know, back then, in certain instances, you know, you have even top players who are able to get by the first few rounds a little more comfortably. Now players realize, first round, you've got to be up and ready to go.

MICHAEL CHANG: No, I'm not really thinking about it, to be honest with you. You know, I think I have a little bit of time to digest this tournament before Davis Cup. I think at this point it's not something that's really on my mind.

MICHAEL CHANG: It is important. I mean, you know, it is important. I think that, you know, in certain aspects, I feel like I kind of agree with Stefan in a sense. He says that it is more difficult to become No. 1 than to win a Grand Slam. To become No. 1, you need to be consistent over a 52-week period. Quite honestly, I feel like I'm still pretty far away from that, so it's not something I need to concern myself with.

MICHAEL CHANG: Thank you (laughter).

MICHAEL CHANG: I had him at that point (laughter). Is that what you were going to say?

MICHAEL CHANG: I think when you get to a stage where you're down two sets to Love, you need to find a way to get back. If you're able to, you know, play a great point, pump yourself up, stay positive, you know, you need to do something to change things up. You need to be positive. For me, that was a great opportunity. I had a good chance the next game to break; wasn't able to do it. You know, I know at that point I'm not out of it. I'm not out of the match. I'm not afraid to be able to fight my way, come back from two sets to Love down. I'm not afraid to stay out there. In that situation, you know, if I'm able to gain a little bit more adrenaline, some of my shots get a little more pumped up, maybe he gets a little dejected, maybe the crowd starts getting behind me a little bit more, you know, things can change. You know, didn't quite happen today. I think in those circumstances, you know, you do what you need to do.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think I was very positive. I knew two sets to Love down, I felt like, you know, it would be tough, but it's not impossible. I feel like with God, anything's possible. Patrick knows that. He knows that I'm not going to give anything to him. Just doesn't make sense. Semifinals of the US Open, doesn't matter in any case. Why give up? Why give the people the satisfaction of just giving a match to them? That brings me no satisfaction walking off that court. So, yeah.

MICHAEL CHANG: I don't think that's something that really bothered me today. I felt like I was comfortable with him playing from the back. That's not an aspect that I felt like he hurt me with today. I think it was more, you know, serve and volley.

MICHAEL CHANG: Now that Stefan is gone?

MICHAEL CHANG: The Woodies are pretty tough (laughter).

MICHAEL CHANG: Well, he's one of the toughest. He's one of the toughest. I think the toughest that I faced has always been Stefan.

MICHAEL CHANG: I don't know. I wasn't in the locker room when Pete lost.

MICHAEL CHANG: No, no. I think that the players felt like they just went about their own business. They know it's part of a Grand Slam. They know sometimes top players go down early. They've been in that kind of situation before. It's not new for them for Pete to lose early. Obviously, they probably talked about it for a day or two, but then they go about their business, trying to concentrate on what they need to concentrate on.

MICHAEL CHANG: Let's see. Do you want me to replay it for you right here?

MICHAEL CHANG: Just getting pumped up, you know. A lot of times, you know, you say, "Come on," stuff like that. A lot of times actually I praise the Lord in Chinese.

MICHAEL CHANG: Yeah, actually at the end. Couldn't read my lips there (laughter)? A lot of times I go out and I do that, so.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think it makes it a lot more interesting. It was already interesting. This makes it even more interesting. You know, I think particularly if Patrick wins tomorrow.

MICHAEL CHANG: Year's not over yet. I feel like it's been a good year. Hopefully, you know, things will continue to get better for me. You know, once again -- actually, this December, November, we have a little bit more time to train and prepare for the upcoming year, which is a little bit nice. Normally, I'd only get maybe three or four weeks off. This year probably I have somewhere around six weeks off, which will be nice. Hopefully I'll put that to good use and come back in '98 a better player.

MICHAEL CHANG: It's always been significant. You know, it doesn't make it any more significant. If I were to be able to win both matches, it would make things a little bit sweeter. It was already very significant.

MICHAEL CHANG: I think that it still is an upset. I think that, you know, you have times where you realize that the guys have the capability of knocking off top players. When it comes down to it, I think when you see an unseeded player beat a seeded player, it's still an upset.

MICHAEL CHANG: If someone is serve and volleying or if someone is staying back?

MICHAEL CHANG: Tough call. That's a tough call. You're probably thinking to yourself tough call, right? That's why it's going to be a good match tomorrow.

MICHAEL CHANG: I was hoping I would be the refreshing part (laughter). Chang finally breaks through after nine-year drought. I think it is great for tennis, you know. Even though I lost today, it is great to see fresh faces. It's always great. I think, you know, you can give an example of Tiger Woods in many instances, be able to bring something special to the game of golf. Obviously, you have two unique, very different individuals in the Finals tomorrow. I think you have some fresh faces, a lot of fresh talent. In a sense, there is a bit of a changing of the guard the past couple years, with Boris retiring and Michael Stich retiring, Stefan Edberg retiring. The game is changing right now. I think people become more and more familiar with these players. Tennis can only become more and more popular in the world.

MICHAEL CHANG: He just gave me some extra tape for some blisters. I really don't want to pick a winner. It's something that I think is too difficult to call. Both are playing well. I think it's going to come down to a matter of who is able to win the big points, the breakpoints, points like that. I really think so. You're not going to see a whole lot of services broken tomorrow. The few that do get broken, it's going to make a huge difference.

MICHAEL CHANG: No. I feel like I'm making progress in the right direction. I feel like I'm making progress. I feel like as long as I'm able to do that and honestly look at my game and see that I'm improving, then I'm willing to stick with it. I don't need to make any drastic change in my game or in my training methods, I don't think. You know, I feel like when you get this close, you just wait and be patient. Hopefully, that opportunity will come.

MICHAEL CHANG: I am. I know in my heart I'm a better player than I was in '89. I think what's frustrating probably is not that I won in '89. That's a very good point. But I think what's been frustrating is that you get close time and time again. It's almost like if somebody's teasing you with something, giving you a piece of candy. You go like this (indicating). They take it away. It's one of those things. I feel like, once again, if there's a word to characterize my career and my life, it's perseverance. I'm not one to quit. I'll continue to work at it. You have to have heartbreaks, times where you fail. You have to pick yourself back up and try, try again.

MICHAEL CHANG: I'm sorry. I didn't understand the question.

MICHAEL CHANG: No. I really feel like those two weeks --

MICHAEL CHANG: I do. Pretty vivid. I feel like those two weeks, God just blessed everything, I mean everything. The way everything went, I always tell people, in many instances it was a fairytale. A 17 year old who comes into the French Open, down two sets to Love to the No. 1 player in the world, comes back, cramping. It's a fairytale. I feel like, with God, there was a purpose for it. The situation in Tienamen Square was going on. Very down time for Chinese people. I still feel in my heart, I tell people, I feel like God wanted me to win that event because of that. It was just one of those situations, one of those tournaments, one of those times where I personally can look back and say God's hand was on it.

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