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 towards Luca Van Assche.
By ATP Employees
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 introduced by PIF, the 19-year-old is now wanting to be part of the sport’s development in Saudi Arabia.
“This occasion, they’ve had so many nice gamers previously and numerous good champions,” he mentioned. “So I believe coming right here is actually particular, particularly coming into Jeddah. Possibly 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 wanting 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 last. 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 believe I am nonetheless the identical completely happy child,” he mentioned. “I attempt to be completely happy on the court docket, attempt to study day-after-day what I can do higher what must be improved. I believe it is just a bit little bit of a problem every day to make me a greater participant.”
Shang posted a 5-3 document 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 12 months with out damage or sickness.
Satirically, he had an eye fixed 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 general effort to dwell a extra skilled life-style.
Shang’s mother and father are additionally key influences. His father, Yi, was an expert soccer participant; his mom, Na, was a world champion desk tennis participant.
“I believe the mentality is similar, that you just go on court docket, you attempt 100 per cent,” he mentioned 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 successful isn’t a very powerful factor. Extra to benefit from the competitors and benefit from the individuals watching you. I believe 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 supplies a uncommon probability 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 mentioned. “It is actually particular as a result of on Tour you play the older guys, not individuals your age. So coming right here, I believe it is some form of strain that I am enjoying children which are like me, my age.”
