The response was pure and joyous. The achievement, simple.
Chalk up one other nice second for Chinese language tennis in Shanghai, as 20-year-old Juncheng Shang took out Karen Khachanov 7-6(3), 6-3 for his first profession Prime 10 victory.
The Chinese language got here via an up-and-down opening set (he was a break up, then a break down) to take it in a tiebreak. The second set was useless even till Shang broke for 5-3 when Khachanov missed a simple volley broad of the sideline and smashed a ball into the ether, incomes a code violation.
Shang then held at like to clinch his victory.
“Unbelievable match immediately towards Karen. He’s a really stable Prime 10 participant,” Shang mentioned. “I didn’t begin completely within the match, however saved preventing, saved focusing each level, was taking part in actually joyful, regardless of profitable or dropping.”
By doing so, world No.237 (previously No.47) Shang turns into the youngest Chinese language participant to ever attain the third spherical in Shanghai, and retains alive a run of three consecutive appearances by Chinese language males within the third spherical in Shanghai. Zhang Zhizhen did it in 2023, reaching the fourth spherical, whereas Wu Yibing reached the third spherical final yr earlier than falling to Carlos Alcaraz.
It’s been a tough yr for Shang, who suffered a proper foot damage on the Australian Open and needed to have surgical procedure in March. He was ranked No.50, however after a six-month hiatus he returned to Canada this summer time outdoors of the Prime 100.
Shang, who was 0-6 vs the Prime-10 previous to his win over Tenth-ranked Khachanov, is now the fourth Chinese language man in historical past to defeat a Prime 10 participant, together with Wu, Zhang and Bu Yunchaokete – all of these victories have come within the final three years.
Shang’s grandmother was in attendance, and Shang mentioned that she was making an attempt to offer him tactical recommendation from her seat.
“I’m glad that I didn’t hearken to her, however tremendous joyful to have household right here, having them watching is unimaginable.”
Requested how he closed out the match so calmly, he mentioned:
“I believe total I simply didn’t suppose an excessive amount of, generally the winners come with out pondering,” he mentioned. “In opposition to gamers like Karen you may solely have one probability to shut it out. If I didn’t it is likely to be a grind within the third set, you by no means know. I’m glad that I saved the main target.”
