Why It Doesn’t Matter Whether Tennis Legend Michael Chang Wins or Loses

Michael Chang is a legendary tennis player, primarily known for his improbable 1989 victory as a teenager at the French Open, among his many successes. But for Chang, that is not his primary legacy. “I've never thought of tennis as just being tennis,” says Chang. “I've always positioned it as a way to touch lives, to share my faith, to inspire young people…young Asian athletes in particular.” It’s a perspective that has helped Chang see his sports career, however successful it has been, in the proper light: “Whether I was winning, whether I was losing, whether it was a very, very close match, the perspective of knowing that this doesn't change who I am or how I'm loved was a great comfort for me.” As the only Asian American male player to hoist a major tennis championship trophy, Chang provided a joyous moment for people of color and especially Asian American fans during a time of tennis’s heyday in the era of white American tennis stars such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. As a Christian on tour, Chang never shied away from naming his faith as a core piece of his identity. Decades later, his fans still remember how much of a disruption he was to the sport, long before the Williams sisters and Naomi Osaka became household names. Enjoy this conversation with Michael Chang, who still holds the record as the youngest man to ever win a major tennis championship. Disruptions discussed in this episode:  30 for 30 Documentary “American Son” Announcement Michael Chang vs Ivan Lendl - 1989 French Open Beyond Colorblind: Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey “Let's come together to end the hate,” essay by Michael Chang The Disrupters is hosted by Nancy Wang Yuen. Theme song is New Eyes by Jason Chu. Mixed and Edited by Matt Linder Producers: Richard Clark and Maila Kim Executive Producers: Andrew Bronson and Helen Lee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands