Michael Chang's Resurgent 1995-96 Slam Campaigns?

[BGod]

Before my general understanding and certainly before I paid attention to secondary players. What is the explanation for this exactly? I know Chang was a contender and won Masters in-between 89-94 but he was paltry at the Slams especially his beloved French. So was it the draws? Technique? Racquet?

 

[jrepac]

he was simply overpowered by others....

 

[IowaGuy]

89-94 but he was paltry at the Slams especially his beloved French.

1990's clay beasts like these guys may have had something to do with it

Imagine having to go through this field to win the French!?!

 

[brystone]

He often lost to big names, sometimes in great matches. Especialy at the Open. He lost to the eventual winner every year at the Open from 91-94. In 92 he probably beats Sampras in the final had he gotten past Edberg in the semis. In 93 for sure only Sampras was stopping him of the guys who made the quarters. In 94 he definitely goes on to win the title had he gotten past that 5 setter with Agassi in the Round of 16.

He is really more of a hard courter than a clay courter despite his surprise RG triumph. Making the 95 final at RG, beating Bruguera, was a huge effort. In 96 and 97 he benefitted from Agassi's decline (and guys like Courier not even being contenders anymore) in making his various HC slam runs.

 

[BGod]

He often lost to big names, sometimes in great matches. Especialy at the Open. He lost to the eventual winner every year at the Open from 91-94. In 92 he probably beats Sampras in the final had he gotten past Edberg in the semis. In 93 for sure only Sampras was stopping him of the guys who made the quarters. In 94 he definitely goes on to win the title had he gotten past that 5 setter with Agassi in the Round of 16.

He is really more of a hard courter than a clay courter despite his surprise RG triumph. Making the 95 final at RG, beating Bruguera, was a huge effort. In 96 and 97 he benefitted from Agassi's decline (and guys like Courier not even being contenders anymore) in making his various HC slam runs.

Wow and people think Murray was unlucky.

 

[IowaGuy]

In 96 and 97 he benefitted from Agassi's decline (and guys like Courier not even being contenders anymore) in making his various HC slam runs.

But then in 96 runs into peak Sampras and 97 runs into peak Rafter, getting straight-setted in each.

When the top S&V were playing well on hardcourt, Chang seemed to struggle. Those courts didn't favor the baseliner in those hardcourt matchups

So, Chang was often out-gunned by agressive baseliners such as Courier and Agassi, while at the same time was at a slight disadvantage on the fast courts against the top S&V. Tough gamestyle for that era on hardcourt!