Subsequent Gen ATP Finals
Shang unchanged forward of Jeddah bow: ‘I am nonetheless the identical comfortable child’
Chinese language star first participant from his nation to compete at youth showcase
December 17, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Shang Juncheng opens his Jeddah marketing campaign Wednesday in opposition to Luca Van Assche.
By ATP Workers
Shang Juncheng’s success has helped gas a tennis increase in China. The primary participant from his nation to compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF, the 19-year-old is now wanting to be part of the sport’s development in Saudi Arabia.Â
“This occasion, they’ve had so many nice gamers prior to now and a variety of good champions,” he stated. “So I feel coming right here is actually particular, particularly coming into Jeddah. Perhaps a few years in the past there wasn’t an excessive amount of tennis motion happening, however now we now have the WTA Finals and the Subsequent Gen Finals right here, so I am actually trying ahead to it.”
Shang enters Jeddah as a member of the High 50 within the PIF ATP Rankings, having reached a career-high of No. 47 in October after successful his first tour-level title in Chengdu. He misplaced only one set in that run on the ATP 250 and beat Lorenzo Musetti within the closing. Regardless of his fast stand up the rankings — and his greater than $1 million in prize cash this season — Shang stays the identical particular person as his recreation evolves.
“I feel I am nonetheless the identical comfortable child,” he stated. “I attempt to be comfortable on the court docket, attempt to be taught daily what I can do higher what must be improved. I feel it is just a bit little bit of a problem every day to make me a greater participant.”
Shang posted a 5-3 file on the Grand Slams this season (he bowed out in qualifying at Roland Garros) and reached the main-draw second spherical in any respect 4 ATP Masters 1000s at which he competed. Aside from his Chengdu title, he singled out his efficiency on the majors as a season spotlight and took specific pleasure in finishing the yr with out harm or sickness.
Sarcastically, he had an eye fixed an infection early within the offseason, however he nonetheless loved some downtime on vacation in Dubai, full with purchasing and seashore time. In current months, Shang has additionally began a gluten-free weight loss program, a part of an general effort to stay a extra skilled way of life.
Shang’s dad and mom are additionally key influences. His father, Yi, was knowledgeable soccer participant; his mom, Na, was a world champion desk tennis participant.
“I feel the mentality is similar, that you simply go on court docket, you strive 100 per cent,” he stated about taking classes from their sporting careers. “That is what they have been telling me on a regular basis: You have to be a competitor, however on the identical time you have to know your values — that possibly generally successful shouldn’t be a very powerful factor. Extra to benefit from the competitors and benefit from the individuals watching you. I feel on the finish of the day it is [the people] who’re subsequent to you that is a very powerful factor.”
Whereas Shang and his fellow Jeddah opponents proceed to study life as skilled tennis gamers, their expertise on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals supplies a uncommon likelihood to compete completely amongst friends.
“The eight of us right here, we all know one another inside-out. We grew up all collectively, we’re throughout the identical age,” he stated. “It is actually particular as a result of on Tour you play the older guys, not individuals your age. So coming right here, I feel it is some kind of strain that I am taking part in children which can be like me, my age.”
