Michael Chang's farewell tour came to a predictable and bittersweet end on Tuesday when he bid goodbye with a gritty first round loss at the US Open.

Just 14 hours after Pete Sampras walked off into retirement on the same Arthur Ashe court, a combative Chang was dragged fighting off the tennis stage with a 6-3 7-5 5-7 6-4 defeat by Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Like Sampras, Chang said he had laboured over his decision to retire.

But unlike the 14-times grand slam winner, Chang refused to read the writing on the wall.

While Sampras exited in a blaze of glory following his victory at last year's Open, Chang stumbled to the finish line -- winning just two matches in 10 events during his farewell campaign.

Chang brings his curtain down after being ousted in first round of US Open. [Reuters]

"It was emotional for me," said Chang. "I had fun today, it was a goal of mine to have fun today and this year.

"If you walk away from the tour thinking you should have done this, or done that and have regrets... then something's not right.

"It's important to walk away feeling good regardless whether you win or lose.

"I felt like I played some good tennis today, I went out there and tried to play the best I could."

Once ranked number two, Chang's career has been in steady decline. Having not won a title for almost three years, his ranking has tumbled to a frightful 222nd.

YOUNGEST CHAMPION

The high point in a career that produced 34 singles titles came early, when the thoughtful American shocked the tennis world in 1989 by becoming the youngest men's grand slam champion at the French Open.

After triumphing at Roland Garros at the age of 17 years, three months, Chang never quite relived that glory over the next 14 years.

He reached three more grand slam finals, including the Australian and US Opens, but never tasted victory again on the big stage.

"Three other grand slam finals after the French, I had a great opportunity here (in 1996)," said Chang.

"I went out and I tried, that's all you can ask of yourself.

"Sometimes people ask about the timing of French Open win and I wouldn't change a thing.

"Unfortunately for me, that second grand slam never quite came."

While Chang's abilities diminished over the years, his will to win never faded.

From the same golden generation of American tennis, Chang and Sampras forged distinctive places in the sport's history but their departures could not have been more different.

While Sampras enjoyed a stirring primetime sendoff with tributes from a list of tennis greats and a stadium packed with celebrities and fans, Chang sweated and toiled in the sun in front of an appreciative but sparse afternoon crowd, that included his ever-present brother Carl and mother Betty.

OBSTINATE REFUSAL

Chang's final match was marked by an obstinate refusal to quit, clawing and fighting for every point, his last effort rewarded with a rousing standing ovation.

"Not every professional athlete gets an ovation like that and obviously it means a lot to me," said Chang. "It means people care a lot about you.

"It's nice to know you've touched a lot of lives and that a lot of lives have touched mine."

Like all great champions, Chang's career will be defined by his qualities as much as accomplishments.

Early on Chang made opponents aware that if you were standing across the net from him that there would be no easy matches.

That message was brought home in Paris, twisted in cramps that reduced him to serving underhand, Chang battled on to defeat Ivan Lendl in an epic five-set marathon en route to the Roland Garros crown.

"The French Open, I don't know if it made me a certain way but the French in many ways brought out a certain characteristic in my game that was always there," said Chang.

"In many ways that was the defining match for my career.

"I think if people recall matches, that is the one match that will come to mind.

"I think in many aspects that match taught me a lot about life and recognising we have our ups and downs and the times you have to fight through, win or lose.

"At one point of that match I thought about quitting but I told myself don't do that. You have to fight."

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