Michael Chang at the French Open in Paris, 1989 (Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
PARIS — The good relationship and mutual respect between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are part of the legacy of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Michael Chang believes this, having witnessed firsthand the intense rivalries of the 1980s and noting the shift brought about decades later by the Swiss and the left-handed Spaniard.
“Federer and Nadal changed the culture in the locker room, to be honest. The generation we followed was very competitive and didn’t really talk to each other,” Michael Chang told CLAY in an interview also published in RG Media at the French Open on the day of the men’s final.
“On court, it’s business: You want to play your best and beat your opponent. Off court, they were kind to everyone, whether you were world No. 2 or No. 100 in doubles. Roger, Rafa, and even Novak are responsible for that transformation. They treated everyone the same and were kind. I think that respect has carried over to the current generation because they respect everyone,” the 53-year-old former player analyzed.
Chang holds a record that neither teenage prodigies Nadal, Pete Sampras, nor Alcaraz could break. When he won Roland Garros in 1989 at 17 years and 3 months old, defeating Stefan Edberg in the final, he became the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam. The American burst onto the pro scene while the era of Lendl, John McEnroe, and Jimmy Connors was still ongoing.
“Alcaraz and Sinner have a very healthy respect for each other. It’s different from years past, like a McEnroe-Connors or a McEnroe-Lendl. There was no friendship there,” Chang said in Paris.
Chang compared Alcaraz and Sinner: “They’re not afraid to be in the spotlight.”
The former world No. 2 gave a detailed analysis of the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner minutes before their first Grand Slam final, which ended in an epic victory for the Spaniard in a fifth-set super tiebreak, a battle lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes.
“After Roger, Andy, and Rafa—and obviously Novak, who’s still competing—there are no better players to lead the way than Alcaraz and Sinner. Both are extremely talented. They’re not afraid to be in the spotlight, and they’re playing the best tennis. While there are other players capable of performing well, these two clearly lead the way,” Chang said.
The 1996 Australian Open and US Open runner-up considers them “incredible ambassadors” for the sport. “Great sportsmanship; tennis is in good hands with them leading.”
Sebastián Varela
