CNN
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Seventeen-year-old Shang Juncheng made Australian Open historical past by turning into the primary Chinese language man to win a match at Melbourne Park within the Open Period.
The qualifier secured a 6-2 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 win towards world No. 74 Oscar Otte in what grew to become a cushty victory for the teenager. Shang twice saved break factors within the first set and went on to dominate the match, successful in 4 units.
“I’d say not directly, I’m slightly shocked that it got here this quick,” Shang stated after the match.
“However on the identical time, I feel it’s all of the arduous work from my group and myself that paid off. I’m simply nothing else however enthusiastic about what’s coming subsequent.”
Shang was composed in his play because the lefty dropped two match factors within the fourth set, however recovered to see out the sport together with his fourth break of the match.
After solely dropping a single set in his three qualifiers, Shang entered the competitors because the youngest participant on the event and is the primary 17-year-old to win a males’s singles match at a grand slam since present world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in 2021.
“After listening to this, I feel it’s fairly an enormous accomplishment,” Shang stated. “He’s one of the best participant on the earth proper now. Simply watching him play on the court docket actually conjures up me, conjures up the younger gamers. So to do that, it’s very particular for me.”
Shang, whose father was an expert footballer and mom was a world champion desk tennis participant, joined fellow compatriots Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing in the principle draw. It’s the first time within the Open Period that three Chinese language males have performed in a grand slam.
“These two guys, they’re positively my inspiration,” Shang stated on Zhang and Wu.
“They’ve been on tour longer than me and are far more skilled than me. I hope I can get to observe them in the principle draw.”
After his victory, Shang jumped up 50 locations on the earth rankings to a profession excessive No. 144.
He now faces American Francis Tiafoe within the second spherical who beat German Daniel Altmaier in 4 units. The Sixteenth-seeded Tiafoe can be one other step up for Shang, however the 17-year-old can be assured having crushed 4 males ranked greater than him in qualifying and the primary spherical.
