#NextGenATP Shang advances in Atlanta and faces Shelton again | ATP Tour

Atlanta

#NextGenATP Shang advances in Atlanta and faces Shelton again

July 25, 2024

A year after beating hometown favorite Ben Shelton in the first round of the Atlanta Open, 19-year-old Shang Juncheng has earned revenge against this year’s top seed.

The #NextGenATP Chinese star added to his two qualifying wins with a 6-1 6-1 victory over American Andres Martin on Wednesday in his first tour-level match since Wimbledon. In both of his Atlanta appearances, Shang has reached the second round after a successful qualifying campaign.

Last year, ranked No. 156 in the PIF ATP Rankings, he beat Shelton before falling to Kei Nishikori. This week, Shang has moved up to a career-high No. 86 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is also fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

Earlier in the day, Reilly Opelka defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 7-6 (5) to advance to the second round at the Atlanta Athletic Club. The tall American continues to gain confidence and will next face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, seeded No. 5.

Also, Italian Mattia Bellucci, who came through the qualifiers, extended his great moment and surprised Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, second seed, by a hard-fought 7-6 (6), 4-6 and 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals. Bellucci, No. 146 in the world, will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Meanwhile, all matches in the evening session had to be postponed due to weather conditions and constant rain.