By G Rajaraman, Sify sports
Thursday, 28 August , 2003
These children of immigrants to the United States had burst on the scene, along with Andre Agassi, around the same time in the late 80s. Their departures from professional tennis last week were as contrasting as their playing styles.
Yet, there is no question that Pete Sampras and Michael Chang, as different as they could possible be, will both have their shrines in tennis? Hall of Fame.
Sampras, one of the greatest tennis players, left the stage he had conquered one last time 12 months ago with the most Grand Slam titles and tears in his eyes - a winner in every which way. Michael Chang, who made waves with his ability to run the ball down, shuffled away after a first round defeat in the US Open with but one Grand Slam crown.
I must confess that I have preferred the art of a John McEnroe to the durability, or even superior play of a Sampras. Having said that, I have no hesitation whatsoever in accepting the fact that Sampras would rate higher for his ability to maximise his skills and keep a sharp focus on his game.
Chang was off to a flier, winning his first ATP title when he was just 16 years and seven months old and becoming the youngest Grand Slam title winner when he just 17 years and three months at Roland Garros in 1989, breaking an American drought of the French Open since 1955.
The Chinese-American set numerous youngest player records. In 1987, he was the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open and the youngest to reach a Tour semifinal. He was also the youngest to rank in the top five of the ATP rankings in 1989. Yet, without a big serve to show, he was only able to rise to No. 2 in the rankings in 1996.
On the contrary, despite winning the US Open in 1990, Sampras came into his own only in 1993 when, with a more complete game and wonderfully positive attitude, he won the first of his Wimbledon crowns and followed it up with a second US Open title.
During the years in the wilderness, Sampras was motivated by the fact that Chang, Agassi and Jim Courier had all jumped ahead.
For much of the decade since then, the ultimate hustler, as John McEnroe labelled Chang, was among Sampras? chasers who discovered that he had learnt what it took to be a consistent Grand Slam winner. By his own admission, when he won the US Open in 1990, the Greek-American was not ready.
"Not as a person, and not as a tennis player, I just happened to have two great weeks but I was a really green, insecure kid," he had said.
And it not until he won the title again in 1993 that he had figured it out mentally and developed a good enough game to defend his position as a marked man on court.
Talking about the mental strength, their games may have been dissimilar but Sampras and Chang had many similarities in their mental make-up. For one, they were fuelled by amazing determination. Let us just look at one instance for each player. If Chang?s 1989 French Open quarterfinal against Ivan Lendl is legend, Sampras? will of steel came forth when he stayed on to win his 1996 US Open quarterfinal with Alex Corretja despite throwing up on court.
Sampras seemed to be the one to make greater mental adjustments. The manner in which he overcame his dislike for grass is a story in itself. For years, he felt grass was an unfair surface. He admitted his attitude was very negative. In 1992, he worked really hard with coach Tim Gullikson on a good second serve and sharp service returns, weapons that are essential to success on grass court.
Stung by a remark by John McEnroe that though he had a great game for grass, his crappy attitude was not helping him, Sampras realised that he could not get over the hurled until he changed his attitude.
Sampras? critics will be quick to point out that he did not win on the red clay at Roland Garros but his fans will remember that in the 1995 Davis Cup final against Russia in Moscow he won three matches -- two singles and the doubles -- against a tough team on his least favourite surface. In making these adjustments, Sampras showed that a champion is not only born but also made.
Chang himself will be remembered for his long matches, his amazing reserve of strength coming to the fore. The 1992 US Open semifinal marathon against Stefan Edberg lasting nearly five and a half hours comes to mind but the greatest must have been the four and a half hour French Open quarterfinal against Ivan Lendl in 1989.
Away from the tennis court, both men have shown golden hearts in supporting charities of their choice. They have shown that they are champions in every sense of the term, basically being terrific humans
At least one writer was moved to say Sampras was great, dependably great. It will be unfair to use the same yardstick to measure Chang?s greatness - or, for that matter anyone else?s. After all, either player has his special place in the tennis universe, Sampras shining the brightest of them all.