Shang : On Tuesday, Chinese tennis prodigy Shang Juncheng gained his maiden ATP circuit tournament by upsetting top-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 7-6(4), 6-1.
Shang stated his joy after winning his first title on native turf following the match. “This night is amazing,” stated the 19-year-old. “I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who helped. We’ll see you next year!”
Shang a budding talent
Shang, a budding talent, finished second at the US Open Juniors in 2021 before making his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2023.
Prior to meeting Musetti at the Chengdu Open, he beat former world number four Kei Nishikori, last year’s runner-up Aslan Karatsev, and second seed Andrey Rublev, reported Xinhua.
Musetti, placed 18th in worldwide rankings, advanced to the semifinals of the Chengdu Open last year and won a medal of bronze in the Paris Olympics.
Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, the French doubles team, effectively defended their title, becoming the first to do so at the Chengdu Open.
Li Na is still China’s greatest singles player, having won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, and numerous women, especially Paris Olympics gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, aspire to follow in her footsteps.
However, achievement on the men’s side continues to elude the country, and Wu Yibing became the first Chinese star to win an ATP trophy when he earned the Dallas Open the previous year.
Shang has also stepped up his efforts to be eligible for the Next Gen ATP Final for the very first time. The competition, held in Saudi Arabia in the month of November, includes the world’s top 20-and-under singles players from the ATP Tour season.
Zheng, the Olympic champion, embraces huge aspirations.
Zheng Qinwen, the Paris Olympics champion, stated Tuesday she intends to leverage home audience support to win her first China Open championship.
The world number seven returns to Beijing after being the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles tennis gold medal.
The China Open, which starts on Wednesday, is a WTA 1000 event and one of the most prominent on the women’s tennis calendar.
“Towards the conclusion of the season, individuals begin to feel jaded. “It’s unique for me,” said the 21-year-old Zheng, who reached the Australian Open final.
With that comes stress, but Zheng claims she is physically fit, has prepared thoroughly, and has “high expectations” of herself.
After Beijing, the player nicknamed “Queen Wen” will compete at the Wuhan Open.
“I think I don’t consider that big pressure,” she remarked of the help she’ll get in the coming weeks.
“I will take that as a big support. I notice how many people support me, especially when I’m feeling bad.
She went on to say, “Playing in China is very different from playing anywhere else in the globe. I know almost all of them; they will make up 95 percent of the crowd and will support me.
“It is a great confidence. There is definitely a lot of excitement on the court when I play.”
Zheng perceives a difference both now and the time she was an Olympic champion.
“When I arrived at the terminal, individuals who did not play tennis were unable to identify me. “My fame was limited to the tennis community,” she told a crowded press conference in the Chinese capital.
“But now, whenever I go to a diner, people want for my autograph.
“I can feel the influence. I’m feeling more responsible now that I’m in China.”
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated her in the Australian Open final earlier this year, will be Zheng’s main title contender in the China Open.
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