First Time Winner
First-Time Winner Highlight: Shang dishes on teddy bears & tiramisu
Chinese language #NextGenATP star displays on his particular second
September 24, 2024
Chengdu Open
Shang Juncheng and his staff have a good time the lefty’s first ATP Tour title on Tuesday night in Chengdu.
By ATP Workers
#NextGenATP star Shang Juncheng made historical past on Tuesday by changing into the primary Chinese language participant to win an ATP Tour title on house soil on the Chengdu Open.
The 19-year-old additionally grew to become the primary participant born in 2005 or later to triumph on the ATP Tour. Getting into the week, he had not made a tour-level championship match.
ATPTour.com caught up with Shang to debate his maiden second, an vital mindset change, his fortunate charms and extra.
What does it imply to win your first ATP Tour title?It has been a troublesome week, robust matches, robust opponents, and I believe it is particular to beat that, and I really feel very grateful to play in [front of] my my house crowd, and so they have been wonderful this week. All of the energies have been nice. My staff, they helped me a lot. My household that is supporting me all the best way all through the week. Simply tremendous, tremendous joyful.
It is a historic second not solely successful your first title, however making extra historical past for Chinese language tennis. How far more particular does that make this and what ought to individuals learn about your friendship with the remainder of the Chinese language stars?It is at all times particular to play at house, not mentioning to win a title. I’ve by no means thought that I’d do it this early in my profession, however I am grateful for this one. Only a tremendous particular week. I used to be going match by match, not realizing what’s going to occur within the subsequent one.
All of [the other Chinese players], they assist me, and we assist one another. We’re form of competing towards one another, the Chinese language gamers. I play one subsequent week in Beijing, truly, and I believe it should be a very good match, good battle, and tremendous excited for what’s coming subsequent.
What have been the important thing moments of your profession that helped you get so far?To be trustworthy there are a whole lot of key moments, however I believe what modified is the angle in the direction of tennis. I believe I have been attempting to put tennis within the quantity two spot. It is not crucial factor. It would not matter what number of titles you win. On the finish, it [is about] the individuals, the individuals round you and the household round you. That is extra vital. So I believe I have been specializing in myself, my associates, household, slightly bit greater than tennis. So once I’m on court docket, I take pleasure in it. After I’m off the court docket, it isn’t at all times about tennis.
Might you are taking a second to acknowledge a number of the key figures in your life and profession who’ve helped you to achieve this milestone?My mother and father, they’ve at all times been supporting me since day one. My grandparents, they’re at all times actually useful, actually supporting me on a regular basis. And my coach, Martin and the IMG Academy household, they have been so useful in my profession. After I was 14, practising with all of the professionals, it is actually a tremendous place to practise, at IMG, and I am grateful for all of the individuals round me.
First time feeling at house
Shang turns into the primary participant born in 2005 or later to win an ATP Tour title after taking down Musetti 7-6(4) 6-1!@ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/9w8t4Alnlp
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2024
Each of your mother and father are athletes. What’s one lesson specifically you’ve realized from every of them?I believe to not present feelings and to be thankful for what you’ve as a result of while you’re profitable, it doesn’t suggest that you just actually deserve it, perhaps since you’re fortunate. And when others fail, it doesn’t suggest that they are simply unhealthy at one thing. Possibly they’re unfortunate.
You do not decide individuals by what you see within the first place. So I believe that is one thing actually, actually vital in our household, that we attempt to not decide, to at all times respect and to at all times study to change into our higher selves.
You’re solely 19 years previous, and you might be right here as an ATP Tour champion. What’s crucial lesson you’ve realized previously couple of years because you’ve began this journey as knowledgeable?Some individuals say that one profession will be actually, actually lengthy, however I believe the previous two years, they glided by like a flash. And I believe you do not get to play that a few years. Swiftly, perhaps I will be 30, 35, years previous. So it’s important to take pleasure in what you’ve, and also you by no means know what is going on to occur tomorrow. So take pleasure in, benefit from the second. No matter you’ve, attempt to reside 100 per cent, attempt to take pleasure in it.
You could have lengthy collected teddy bears and so they have change into your fortunate charms. Would you thoughts telling followers about your present fortunate attraction(s), the place you bought it/them and why it’s vital to you?I believe to have the bear sitting on the court docket, you actually cannot get mad at a teddy bear. In case you get mad at a teddy bear, there’s one thing flawed with you. So I attempt to preserve calm. Every time he falls down, I decide him up so [it] can have a very good positioning watching the match. It is actually a psychological factor. There’s probably not any secrets and techniques to it, simply to have a very good angle.
How would you describe your self as a participant, and the way would you describe your self off the court docket?I believe I am actually clear. On and off the court docket. I am about the identical. Possibly slightly crazier off. On court docket, I am slightly extra calm, I am extra targeted, and I believe total, I am a extremely constructive man, at all times joyful.
What do you contemplate to be your largest ardour exterior of tennis and may you inform us slightly bit about that curiosity?I’d say golf. I believe that that is helped me quite a bit with my endurance. It is a four-hour sport. You want principally the entire day to play by way of. And generally the circumstances are robust, windy, form of similar to tennis. So for those who’re affected person in that, one thing off the court docket, I imagine it is slightly like coaching, you’ve enjoyable on the similar time.
It is a milestone second in your profession. How will you have a good time this victory?I believe by consuming tiramisu!
