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NEWPORT, Rhode Island: Michael Chang, who captured the French Open
title at the age of 17 to end a 34-year Roland Garros drought by US
men, will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
here on Saturday.
Also set for enshrinement on Saturday in
ceremonies at an Association of Tennis Professionals tournament are
sports marketing pioneer Mark McCormack and Tennis Week publisher
Gene Scott, both posthumous inductees as contributors, boosting the
Hall to 207 members.
Chang won the 1989 French Open just three months
past his 17th birthday, defeating Swedish star Stefan Edberg in the
final after having toppled top seed Ivan Lendl in the fourth round.
He became the event’s youngest men’s winner.
“It is truly an honor to be inducted into the
International Tennis Hall of Fame,” Chang said. “It has been an
incredible privilege to compete against the best players in the
world and I will always cherish and forever remember my experiences
on tour with my family, friends and fans.”
Chang went 662-312 in a 16-year career, winning
34 titles and spending seven years ranked in the top 10, peaking
when he became world number two in September of 1996.
-- AFP
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