PARIS -- He had barely acknowledged the warm applause on Philippe Chatrier Court when he walked onto the red clay for the last time ever. But a few moments later, while Fabrice Santoro was sitting in his changeover seat fiddling with his shoelaces, Michael Chang seemed to let it all wash over him.

	'I've only cried twice - and both times on this court,' Michael Chang said.

He looked around the buzzing, well-populated upper rim, squinting into the sinking sun. He kicked the red dirt near the baseline. He tugged at his tall white socks.

Au revoir, Michael Chang.

As always, Chang gave his very best effort in the match that followed. As has been increasingly the case, it wasn't nearly good enough. Santoro took him out 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. Afterward, Santoro almost looked stricken.

"In 1988, the French Tennis Federation gave me a wildcard (at the age of 16) here at Roland Garros," Chang told the crowd. "Here I am, 16 years later, and the French Federation was kind enough to give me another wild card."

After 53 matches here at Roland Garros, Chang has more than returned the favor.

He reached the third round with that first wild card in 1988 and a year later became the youngest champion ever, at 17, overcoming cramps and Ivan Lendl in a four-hour, 37-minute match in the round of 16 and Stefan Edberg in the rousing five-set championship match. It was the first win for an American man in Paris since Tony Trabert won in 1955. And though Chang would reach three more Grand Slam finals -- Roland Garros in 1995, the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 1996 -- it was his only major title.

	“	He was happy to be in the draw against me here in Paris for what could be his last match. We are the same age. We faced each other for the first time when we were 12 or 13. In 1989, he entered history, and I was just was a junior. ”
		— Fabrice Santoro, on opponent Michael Chang

"I don't think there would be any tournament that would be able to top 1989," Chang said. "Just the way the matches were played, the last four matches. Being 17 years old, playing Lendl, Edberg, (Andrei) Chesnokov, (Ronald) Agenor with Tienenman Square going on. You tell a story like that to your children."

It's been a curious year for Chang so far. When he announced his retirement before the season, he said he wanted to thank all the people who have supported him throughout his career. He probably didn't anticipate playing matches against Andre Agassi (San Jose), Paradorn Srichaphan (Memphis), Carlos Moya (Indian Wells), Nicolas Kiefer and Agassi again (Miami). His only victory was against Kiefer, and for his Roland Garros farewell he drew a popular Frenchman on Center Court.

Still, Santoro is no Agassi.

Santoro has now played in 14 French Opens, behind only Chang and Agassi's 15. At 30, the Frenchman, too, is winding down his career. He is a solid player who had reached the round of 16 here twice. Coming into the match, however, he was 0-4 on clay and was working on a humbling streak of 0-for-7, going all the way back to February.

"He was happy to be in the draw against me here in Paris for what could be his last match," Santoro said. "We are the same age. We faced each other for the first time when we were 12 or 13. In 1989, he entered history, and I was just was a junior.

"At no moment I thought that my job was to let him get back in the match. If there is a player you can't take time with, it is Michael Chang. I wanted to remain concentrated, I wanted to give him the least possible chance to come back to the match."

In the opening game, Chang cracked a forehand crosscourt winner, drilled an overhead and, at deuce, nicked the net with a heavy forehand and got a fortunate bounce. In this, his 16th French Open, Chang is probably due. He jumped out to a 2-0 lead but, in retrospect, one wonders how much of that was adrenaline.

With Santoro leading 6-5, Chang was serving to reach a tiebreaker. At deuce, Santoro chipped a drop shot so subtle it might have evaporated on the spot. On set point, he worked his way into net and, as Chang bolted toward the open court, volleyed the ball behind him.

The set required 64 minutes; the last two sets took three minutes less combined.

And when it was over, when Santoro had sliced one last backhand volley winner, Chang stopped at the baseline and turned to the ballboys. He called for the balls and they came, one, two, three, four. Then he walked slowly to the net, where he met Santoro for a lingering handshake.

Then, back on the court, he turned slowly, a full 360 degrees, waving to the crowd, which was on its feet. Blinking back the tears in the fading sunlight, Chang tried to smile.

Christian Bimes, the President of the French Tennis Federation, presented him with a commemorative poster from the 1989 championship and thanked him profusely.

"We hope he'll come back for the Legends tournament one day," Bimes said.

Through all the platitudes and congratulations, Chang has maintained his emotional equilibrium. In life, just as in tennis, he always has been intensely focused on the job before him. And now, the French Open was behind him. Forever.

"This tournament has been special to me," Chang said, his hands shaking. "The funny thing is in my 16-year career I've only cried twice -- and both times on this court.

"I appreciate the warmth and encouragement. Thanks for this last opportunity. God bless each and every one of you."

No, Michael, thank you.

Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.