Michael Chang: Piecing together the mystery of Deda’s potential | ATP Tour

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Michael Chang: Piecing together the mystery of Deda’s potential

Former world No. 2 discusses his relationship with rising left-wing star Tenn

March 8, 2026

Zhang Depei knows what early breakthrough means.

The American became the youngest men’s Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros in 1989 at age 17, and now he’s seeing that same early promise in one of the sport’s rising stars: Learner Tien. Tenn won his first ATP Tour title in Metz and lifted the trophy at the Next Generation ATP Finals, underlining his status as one of the most exciting young players in the sport since the pair began working together last July.

“I think he’s a very special guy,” Zhang told ATPTour.com in Indian Wells, referring to the 20-year-old Tian. “He thinks more than most players on the court. He’s a fighter, and people only see him when they’re deep in contact with him. He’s not the type of player who’s going to hit a great shot and yell, ‘Come on!’ He’s not that kind of character, but he fights and doesn’t give up, and that’s what I appreciate.”

The two met for the first time in a brief clash in Hong Kong early last season. At the time, Zhang knew little about the young southpaw who was practicing at a nearby ballpark. Things quickly changed a few weeks later, when Tian burst into the spotlight at the Australian Open, stunning Daniil Medvedev in a marathon five-set match to reach the fourth round.

For Zhang, coaching has always been rooted in curiosity and problem-solving. The same analytical thinking that defined his career now shapes the way he works with players, whether they’re rising stars on the ATP Tour or family members who have picked up a racket himself.

“I’m a very thinking person on the tennis court. I like to try to figure out ways to win matches and figure out ways to improve,” said Zhang, who has reached a career-high No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “From a coaching perspective, the combination of those things is really fun. Whether I’m working with learners or my kids… it’s fun to be able to help people improve and see the smile on their face. To me, it’s very satisfying.”

Zhang’s reputation as one of the most respected coaches in the sport was established long before his partnership with Tian. In the 2013 offseason, he began to cooperate with Kei Nishikori, helping the Japanese star start the next stage of his career. Within a year, Nishikori broke into the top ten and produced one of the most memorable performances of his career, reaching the 2014 U.S. Open final.

“Kei is already a good player, but his journey into the top 10 has been tough,” Chang said. “It was fun to work with him and see him achieve this in 2014. I watched some great matches with Kei…his performance at the 2014 U.S. Open was very special.

“It was also fun to see him win in Tokyo for the first time in front of his hometown crowd. There are a lot of great memories, but most importantly, seeing his progression as a player and his maturity as a person.”

The sport has changed in the years since Chang first teamed up with Nishikori. One of the biggest differences today is the introduction of coaches during games. The shift changed the relationship between coaches and players, something Zhang, now working with Tian, ​​must adapt to.

“The coaches back then were very different from the coaches now,” Zhang explained. “We can now coach during games, which changes the dynamic a lot. There are some opportunities to do that with Kai, but they are few and far between. The way I work with Kai is to understand his game and who he is as a person. We try to find ways to communicate in the best way to overcome a lot of weaknesses and make his strengths stronger.

“It’s always been a fun project for me. It’s constantly dissecting, constantly analyzing, to see why he won and lost certain games. A lot of it is just solving puzzles and trying to find answers.”

Learner Tien, Michael Chang” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/03/06/12/55/tien-chang-australian-open-2026-coach.jpg”>_{^{Learner Tian listens to coach Zhang Depei’s speech at the 2026 Australian Open. Photo: Paul Crocker/Getty Images}}

As Zhang’s career began to wind down, coaching was never something he had planned carefully. But as opportunities presented themselves, he found himself returning to the game in a different role, helping the next generation cope with the challenges of tour life.

“I’m no longer on tour, but tennis will always be a big part of my life,” Zhang said when asked about his coaching career. “It wasn’t something I really wanted but the opportunity was there and I was able to work with some really good players. Kei is one of them and is a learner now.”

Although Zhang and Tian’s careers are separated by decades, there are some similarities in their early rise on the court and their prospects that helped their partnership blossom quickly.

“We share similar beliefs, which brings a unique dynamic to our coaching relationship,” Zhang added. “Knowing he’s going to go out there and play his best for God… every time he goes into a tournament, he’s excited to play. I haven’t had a week where he likes to take off, he’s always hungry.

“It’s special when you have that passion because I don’t know if everyone has that passion. For him, having that desire to compete with the best players in the world just sets him up for even more success.”

Tian’s rise has included some noteworthy milestones. During his breakout 2025 season, he won five Lexus ATP Head2Head matches against top-10 opponents and broke into the top 30 in the world for the first time. With Zhang now a part of him, hopefully these early achievements are just the beginning.

“He’s a great kid. He’s got a lot of brains,” Zhang said of Tian. “He’s very talented and very smart. It’s been so fun to work with him and see him continue to improve. It’s great to see him have some great success and hopefully we can continue to work on that.”