China feat: Juncheng Shang lifts first ATP Tour title | ATP Tour

Chengdu

Chinese feat: Shang lifts his first ATP Tour title in Chengdu

He is the second Chinese to win an ATP Tour title

September 24, 2024

Juncheng Shang has made history in the sport. At 19 years old, the #NextGen ATP Asian won his first title at the Chengdu Open on Tuesday, becoming only the second Chinese player to win a trophy in the history of the ATP Tour. Surrounded by maximum expectation, he has managed to complete a golden page in the region, demonstrating his arrival in style towards the elite of the circuit.

The No. 55 in the PIF ATP Rankings kept his cool in his first ATP Tour final, defeating top seed Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(4), 6-1 to find his way to the cup. After a close first set, where he withstood the pressure in the tiebreak, the Asian unleashed his shots with enthusiasm to cap off a dream week in front of his home fans.

In the spotlight since the start of the tournament, Shang has had a week full of composure on the courts of Chengdu. The Chinese player has fought his way to the cup by losing just one set throughout the tournament, defeating multiple ATP Tour champions such as Kei Nishikori and Alexander Bublik on his way to the final.

With the trophy in his hands, Shang embodied an unforgettable moment in front of the fans of the Asian giant. The Beijing native became the second Chinese champion in the history of the ATP Tour, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Wu Yibing (Dallas 2023), and the first to lift a tour-level trophy on local soil.

In a breakout 2024 season, having already reached the semi-finals in Hong Kong and Atlanta, the Chinese player continues to make strides towards the elite level of the locker room. Shang, who has racked up more than 30 wins in a single season for the first time, has secured a career-best ranking of world No. 52.

Shang’s victory also confirms him as one of the great young stars on the circuit. The Chinese player has risen to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, strengthening his chances of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the first time in his career. The event, which brings together the eight best U-20 players at the end of the season, will take place from 18-22 December at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.