Chinese American Michael Chang Wednesday met Sun Jinfang, director of the
Chinese Tennis Federation, expressing his willingness to coach the Chinese team
for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Chinese American Michael Chang.[File
Photo]
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They met in the VIP zone,
with the company of Michael's mother, in the afternoon during the ATP tennis
Masters Cup. Sun greeted Michael and ensured that he can coach whatever team he
wants -- the men's team or the women's, or even the youth team.
During the half-hour meeting, Michael pointed out that he wanted to coach the
team to play in the Beijing Olympics.
Sun said that it was only a notion of Michael to coach and until now Michael
did not have a detailed plan for his coaching job. Both of them needed a further
talk. Michael was invited to watch the training in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province
after the Masters Cup.
"I gave him some practical advices for he has no experience and he may have
not enough understanding with the players. He may not be successful and we
should be ready for that," said Sun.
Michael expressed his willingness to coach in China and Sun responded on
November 14th: "Michael contacted us in many means of ways and even his mother
called me. I hope that we can meet and have a talk during the Masters Cup."
Michael explained that "I won't leave tennis for God gave us talent to let us
contribute to society. I love Chinese tennis players and fans, that's why I want
to coach the Chinese team."
One domestic website had a survey on Michael's coaching. Until now, 88.24
percent people agree. 47.06 percent of them hope him to coach the men's team
while 33.33 percent hope for the women's. More than half respondents thought
that Michael would help China make large development in the sport.
Grown-up in the United Sates, Michael qualified for the second round of the
1986 US Open at the age of 15 and became the youngest to have a maindraw win in
the US Open.
What makes Michael more famous is that he became the youngest Roland Garros
winner in 1989. During his playing career, he has won 34 ATP tournament singles
champions and had the highest 2nd rank in the world.
