Chang recalls underhanded serve vs. Lendl

Michael Chang reflected on his remarkable fourth-round upset of then-No. 1 Ivan Lendl at 1989 Roland Garros. Chang went on to capture the title, beating Stefan Edberg in the final. Chang and Lendl will compete in an ATP Champions Tour tournament together for the first time in Delray Beach, starting on Friday.

In one of the most memorable matches of the 20th century, the then-17-year-old Chang overcame serious cramps, served underhanded and overcame the legendary Lendl, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, in a four-hour, 39 minute marathon.

"I had such a difficult time holding my own serve during that match and when I started to get the cramps at the end of the fourth set I just couldn’t get up for a serve," Chang said of the underhanded serve. "Every time I went up for a serve my legs would cramp so I just pretty much had to arm my serve over the net and my first serve was coming in at maybe 65, 69 miles per hour and I couldn’t generate any pace. So strangely enough I was actually having more difficulty holding my own serve than I was breaking him which is kind of odd, so under those circumstances I was down 15-30 and I just thought I had to try something different. It was a real spur of the moment thing. Andre Agassi used to throw in the underarm serve in the 12 and unders so it crossed my mind and I just did it, I think that the tide of the match for some reason."