Release No. 17-2005
USTA NAMES MICHAEL CHANG
TO USA TENNIS HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE FOR 2005-2006
French Open Winner Supports Effort in Development of Young American Champions
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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., January 13, 2005 - The USTA today announced that Michael Chang has been named to the USA Tennis High Performance Committee for a two-year term and will serve through 2006. The committee will assist the USA Tennis High Performance professional staff with its charge to facilitate the development of world-class American champions, providing promising players with access to the best coaching, training and conditioning.
“Michael’s achievements throughout his remarkable professional career, including his tremendous success on tour on all surfaces, including clay, and at such a young age, provide him a unique perspective that will benefit our player development efforts,” said Franklin Johnson, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “We appreciate his eagerness to help with this important initiative.”
“For me to have the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of our top juniors and young professionals is very special,” said Chang. “After 16 years on tour, I look forward to contributing and sharing my experiences. I look forward to playing a role in building on the recent successes of the USTA’s player development program and helping produce more top U.S. players.”
Chang retired from professional tennis at the 2003 US Open, ending an 16-year career. He was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, winning 34 singles titles and over $19 million in prize money. In 1987, Chang became the youngest player (15 years, 5 months) to win a main draw match at the US Open after winning the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships earlier that summer. The following year, he captured his first tour title at the age of 16 and would win at least one ATP title each of the next 11 years. He became the youngest player (17 years, 3 months) to win the men’s singles title Roland Garros in 1989, the first American man to win the French Open in 34 years.
The committee is chaired by Billie Jean King and includes Frank Inn, Jack Kramer, Angel Lopez, Delaine Mast, Andrea Norman, Kimberly Po-Messerli, David Porter, Bryan Shelton, Jeff Tarango, Craig Tiley, Brian Vahaly and Dennis Van der Meer.
The USA Tennis High Performance program operates primarily from two facilities – its Headquarters in Key Biscayne, Fla. and the new USA Tennis High Performance Training Center in Carson, Calif. The USTA also holds player development activities at more than 100 Competition Training Centers throughout the country, including the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and is a not-for-profit organization with more than 675,000 members. It owns and operates the US Open and, in 2004, launched the US Open Series which links 10 summer hard court tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympics and Paralympic Games. It invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grassroots to the professional levels. For more information on the USTA, log on to www.usta.com. For more information on how to learn tennis fast, visit www.TennisWelcomeCenter.com.
For more information contact:
Tim Curry, Senior Manager, Publicity, USTA
(914) 696-7077 or Curry@usta.com