Subsequent Gen ATP Finals
Shang unchanged forward of Jeddah bow: ‘I am nonetheless the identical completely happy 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 Employees
Shang Juncheng’s success has helped gasoline 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 desirous to be part of the sport’s progress in Saudi Arabia.Â
“This occasion, they’ve had so many nice gamers up to now and a whole lot 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’ve 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 profitable 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 individual as his recreation evolves.
“I feel I am nonetheless the identical completely happy child,” he stated. “I attempt to be completely happy on the courtroom, 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 report 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 explicit pleasure in finishing the 12 months with out harm or sickness.
Sarcastically, he had a watch an infection early within the offseason, however he nonetheless loved some downtime on vacation in Dubai, full with procuring and seashore time. In current months, Shang has additionally began a gluten-free eating regimen, a part of an total effort to reside a extra skilled way of life.
Shang’s mother and father 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 courtroom, you attempt 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 perhaps typically profitable isn’t 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 rivals proceed to find out about life as skilled tennis gamers, their expertise on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals gives a uncommon probability to compete solely 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 form of stress that I am taking part in children which are like me, my age.”
