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Japanese version

[Note: Questions from fans are in boldface. Michael's responses, along with exact times and subject headers, are in regular print.]

Michael, I've been using your racquet for three years now and love it except for the fact that three of them have broken on me just after being restrung (at 63 lbs). I tried a titanium racquet (not yours) at the local tennis club and found it to be too light. Though the word is that they are more powerful my physics teaching tells me less mass would have to be compensated by more racquethead speed which means a player would have to be that much more accurate. I may be simplifying it a bit but I don't feel we need to go any lighter, especially in light of all the wrist injuries being reported. I checked out the Prince site on your new titanium racquet and it's listed at approximately the same weight as your other racquet and as a titanium/graphite mix. That sounds excellent! How about advertising a little bit in reply to this.
Saw you play in person against Courier in the quarterfinals at Washington DC this year. It was a highlight of my life (next to being saved, my wedding night, and seeing the birth of my first child). Great point to end the first set! Hope you have it on tape.

God bless you,
Duane

Subject: Re: New Michael Chang Titanium Racquet
Date: 11/9/98 2:51 PM US Eastern Standard Time

I'm sorry to hear that those three racquets broke on you. That's the first I've heard of that happening. You might want to check whether the person stringing the racquet is clamping it in the right spots because I know that that can cause racquets to break. I'm sure Prince would be more than happy to replace those but if for some strange reason you have problems, let me know and I'll get you three more!:) I'm no physics expert so I would say stick with whatever makes you play better tennis. And like you said, trying racquets out is a good and fun thing. That's what demos are for. As far as all the wrist injuries are concerned, I think it has to do with the balls more than anything else. They have tried to slow the game down by changing the balls and making them heavier and it's giving lots of players problems. My gut feeling tells me that a lighter racquet would put less stress on the joints and ligaments though. I'm not totally sure though to be honest with you. My wrist injury this year was caused many by my torn ligament in my left knee. I ended up trying to compensate too much after I hurt it and it's been bugging me for 6+ months. It's been a tough year with two major injuries but the Lord Jesus is making me tougher through it all as well.:) As far as the setpoint goes, all I can say is, I was as surprised as everyone else was!!:) But honestly speaking, when you're a professional tennis player and you hit a shot like that, you try and act like that was exactly what you tried to do!:) HA! HA!:) But deep down inside, I know Who made it happen!:):)

I love the way you play. You don't let your emotions out, and my parents admire it. I understand the hard work you have done to get where you're at. I'm really competitive in tennis. I'm #1 in Tennessee 12s. I'm about 30 in the nation. I'd like to talk to you, so E-mail me at ---- (deleted).

Subject: Re: hello, Michael
Date: 11/9/98 2:52 PM US Eastern Standard Time

Congratulations on being #1 in Tennessee! That's a great accomplishment! I would encourage you to continue to work on your strengths but even more so your weaknesses. You're off to a great start so keep up the good work! And no doubt, Tennessee is a place that loves their tennis! I love playing in Memphis every year and in fact, I haven't missed the Kroger St. Jude once since I turned professional in 1988! It's the only tournament I've played every year. The people are just fabulous! I look forward to it every February!:) I'm sure one day you'll be there competing with the home town fans cheering you on too!

hello Michael chang,
I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THE SPORT TENNIS AS ANYTHING WORTH PLAYING, UNTIL ONE SUMMER DAY. I WAS SEATING IN THE T.V. ROOM FLICKING THROUGH EVERY STATION AND I JUST HAPPENED TO SEE THIS GUY (YOU) PLAYING TENNIS. SO I WATCHED IT. YOU WERE VERSING PHILLIPPOUSSIS. YOU WERE PLAYING SO WELL. AFTER THE GAME WAS OVER THEY MENTIONED THAT IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY. EVER SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION ON THE SPORT TENNIS. I PLAY NOW AND I ENJOY IT. BUT I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BACKSWINGS. AND DIRECTING THE BALL TO WERE I WANT TO GO. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Subject: Re: your a role model to me Date: 11/9/98 2:54 PM US Eastern Standard Time

Wow! How encouraging it is to hear (for me:) ) that you've picked up the game because you saw one tennis match! That's pretty cool! As far as your groundstrokes and directing the ball goes, I would say just continue to practice and as you practice, you will get better and better at it. I do know that turning your shoulders will give you better control and direction and you will find that as your timing gets better, so will your accuracy and placement. I hope that helps! Have fun and enjoy the wonderful sport of tennis!:)

Michael when your on the court which do you think is better to have quickness or power?

Subject: Re: power or quickness
Date: 11/9/98 2:55 PM US Eastern Standard Time

For me, I would always choose quickness if it had to be one or the other just because my size and style of play suit that. Obviously, it would be great to have both but for you, I think it's important to look at what you do best on the court and how well you move. This way, you can gear your game toward a particular style but at the same time, be able to recognize and work on your weaknesses. This is something I have tried to do so that I would have less and less weaknesses and more and more strengths! My motto for tennis has not changed though and that is: if you can't get to the ball, you can't hit it!:) I guess that would some up my answer for your question!:)

I just want to tell you that I think you are a great inspiration to a lot of people. I'm from South Africa and I must say that you have a lot of fans back home. I'm one of them. Your style is amazing. I am a tennis player myself, and I know how hard things can get sometimes. Best of luck for the future. Bye

Subject: Re: To Michael Chang
Date: 11/9/98 2:57 PM US Eastern Standard Time

Thank you for your encouragement! Actually, the South African tennis players on tour have always been very friendly and easy going. I'm pretty good friends with Christo Van Rensburg and I get along quite well with Wayne Ferreira. I have received quite a few encouraging letters from South Africa and they have always been a great uplifter for me! Thank you for yours!:)

Michael,
I bought tickets months early for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington and drove from west Texas to see you play. I knew you'd make it to the final. It was my first live tournament. I can't tell you how exciting it was to see you beat Jim Courier in the quarters - especially the behind the back return of a lob to finish the first set. I watched you practice the day of the semifinal match and noted (curiously) that you were slicing most of your back hands and realized why when you came out and said you couldn't continue because of the left wrist. I was disappointed. Agassi put on a good show but I'm not really an Agassi fan (no offense intended to Agassi nor Courier in this message). Hope to see you again in person. I know the injuries have been rough to deal with but I'm sure you will persevere and be back in the top ten soon. I love the aggressiveness with which you've played recently. It seems the top players nowadays are very aggressive and, even if not serve and volleyers, are alert to opportunities to approach the net and end the point. I think your work on a hard first serve is a good idea - keep it up. If you want to stay in the game for a while yet and avoid injuries you need to shorten the points and take your opportunities before the other guy does.
Michael, I have pretty good shots, but my biggest problem on the court is my attitude and I can't seem to maintain concentration past the first couple of shots per point. If you have any pointers or scriptures to advise me, I would be grateful.
Hang in there, and God bless you,
Duane

Subject: Re: How's the wrist?
Date: 11/9/98 2:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time

Yeh, I must say that it was pretty discouraging to default my semifinal match in Washington. In fact, I had to pull out of the next tournament the following week in Toronto as well. You're right in that it has been a tough year but one thing I've learned during this past year is that it's important to appreciate things in life and that it's also very important to have a good balance to go with that. What I mean is that hard work is important but rest and play is just as important too! I don't think I took enough time to rest last year during the 'off season' and I almost feel that the Lord is making sure I take it this time. He has His plans in everything and I know that even though certain things have been tough, the knowledge and experiences that I've had to go through will help and prepare me for bigger and better things in the future!
As far as your attitude and concentration on the court goes, I would say that that is often where you can win or lose a match. The reason why I say that is because you never know when the momentum can shift because of a single point. One thing that has helped me keep focused during a point is to always be looking for opportunities to attack or get my opponent in trouble. This way, you won't lose that concentration because you are always looking for the right ball. Are you sure you're not losing concentration because the matches are too easy?:)

Know any exercises to get so fast?

Subject: Re: Good Luck
Date: 11/9/98 3:00 PM US Eastern Standard Time

Jump roping is a great way to train quickness. In tennis, remember that you don't need to be fast, but you need to be quick. So when you train, try and train those first couple steps because they are very important. Various drills will help you too like two people at the net with you at the baseline. And try to run for everything whether it's in or out because after all, if you can get the out balls, the in balls will be no problem!:)

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