FRENCH OPEN Chang giving red clay last shot
At 31, he's ready to hang up his racquet after the U.S. Open.
PARIS (AP) -- Every so often, Michael Chang will pop in a video and relive the 4 1/2 hours that define his career: a victory over Ivan Lendl in the 1989 French Open.
"It's odd," Chang said. "I'll be watching the tape, and I'll finish the match and I'll think to myself, 'How did I win that?"'
That sums up what was on everyone's mind when Chang overcame a two-set deficit and dehydration to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history. He went on to win that French Open at 17, still the record for youngest male champion at a Grand Slam tournament.
Preparing for Garros
Now 31, Chang is preparing to play on Roland Garros' red clay for the final time. He's retiring after the U.S. Open.
"It's getting more and more difficult to do the daily grind, to put in all the work hours day in and day out," Chang said. "The tour is getting tougher and tougher."
Playing a limited schedule, he's won just one ATP Tour match all year, is ranked 142nd, and he needed a wild-card invitation to get into his 15th straight French Open.
How long has Chang been around? His first trip to the French Open ended with a third-round loss to John McEnroe. Yes, that John McEnroe.
Chang was to find out this year's first-round opponent today. The biggest question heading into the draw was whether defending champion Serena Williams and her sister, Venus, would be on the same half of the women's bracket. That would end any chance of a fifth straight major final between them.
Semifinal possible
When the siblings were ranked Nos. 1 and 2, they couldn't meet earlier than the title match. But with Serena atop the rankings and Venus now third, the random draw could set up an all-Williams semifinal. Kim Clijsters has moved up to second, with fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne fourth.
Among the men, Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt is seeded No. 1, with eight-time Grand Slam titlist Andre Agassi second, and defending champ Albert Costa ninth.