Indian Wells, Mar 10: Former French Open champion Michael Chang, who announced two months ago that this would be his last season on the ATP tour, said he has no regrets about his decision. "It has been good," the 31-year-old American said yesterday. "At times it has been a little bit emotional and it will probably get a little more so as the year progresses."
Chang, who has 34 career singles titles and reached a career-high world number two, has not been at his best since suffering a knee injury four years ago.
"Regardless of how I do this year my decision is pretty set," Chang said as he prepared to compete in the first of the 2003's prestigious tennis masters series events, which starts today. "I may go out and end up doing very well. After the US Open is done for this year it will be a little bittersweet.
"But I will feel good about my decision and will definitely walk away from the tour without having regrets."
Since turning professional in 1988 Chang has won over USD 19 million in prize money and finished in the year-end top 10 seven times. But he lost in the first round of 13 tournaments last year.
Chang became the youngest Roland Garros champion ever in 1989 at 17 years, three months, when he won his only grand slam title following classic five-setters over Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, but has not won a title since the summer of 2000.
Apart from his French Open title, his grand slam bests were runner-up in Roland Garros in 1995 and at both the 1996 Australian and US Opens.
Bureau Report