Shang Juncheng made historical past on Monday at Wimbledon, the place he turned the primary Chinese language man within the Open Period to win a match at The Championships. Watching on have been his dad and mom Wu Na and Shang Yi, who each know what it takes to compete on the highest degree in sport.
Shang’s mom Wu Na was a world champion in desk tennis, successful a bronze medal on the 1995 World Tennis Championships in girls’s doubles and a gold medal in blended doubles in 1997. Shang’s father performed skilled soccer as a midfielder, spending the vast majority of his profession with Beijing Guoan and incomes two worldwide caps for China in 2000.
“They’ve all the time performed their very own sports activities with me since I used to be a child,” Shang informed ATPTour.com at Wimbledon. “I performed lots of soccer with my dad and a few desk tennis with mum after which additionally we might go and have enjoyable with different sports activities as properly, so I believe that we’re a reasonably sporty household. We have now all the time preferred to be lively and aggressive, so I believe that units a great tone as an athlete while you’re actually younger, studying the right way to compete.
“My grandparents have proven me some footage of my dad and mom taking part in sport as properly. My dad and mom do not prefer to brag about how they have been doing earlier than. However they have been nice athletes, I imagine. And results-wise, they have been for certain.”
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#NextGenATP Shang would spend many afternoons taking part in soccer within the park along with his dad when he was younger. Nevertheless, the Chinese language lefty admitted that making an attempt to make the grade in tennis was all the time the No. 1 aim.
“I really actually liked taking part in soccer, however attributable to lots of accidents from my dad, my mum did not need me to observe that manner,” Shang stated. “It was powerful for him. A whole lot of surgical procedures after which accidents coming again out and in. They liked tennis since they have been athletes, and the primary time I attempted it between tennis and golf, I most popular tennis.
“I assumed tennis you possibly can have lots of rallies after which I like golf now however again then I assumed it was boring simply hitting one shot and also you needed to stroll a great distance. As a child, I believe tennis you possibly can play with different youngsters as properly and it is a actually aggressive sport, not simply by your self. I believe that’s how I began liking it.”
Shang is at the moment No. 91 within the PIF ATP Rankings, having damaged into the High 100 for the primary time in Could. The 19-year-old, who began coaching on the IMG Academy in 2019, reached his first tour-level semi-final in Hong Kong firstly of the yr. Nevertheless, he has additionally suffered setbacks in 2024, dropping within the first spherical of qualifying at Roland Garros.
Alongside coach Martin Alund, Shang’s dad and mom have used their sporting experiences to repeatedly present essential info to assist the lefty develop and overcome disappointment.
“After I bought into tennis, as athletes they each helped. My mum performed a person sport, she is aware of the right way to compete by herself after which additionally having her workforce assist her. My dad taking part in a workforce sport was a little bit bit completely different, however with bodily contact, he is aware of how essential health is and measures to assist stop damage, so I believe it is actually excellent for me as a child to begin like that in a household who perceive. I am lucky they’ve taught me so many issues, principally the whole lot I do know, and it is simply actually optimistic.
“They’re nonetheless touring with me now and instructing me lots of issues. Additionally taking the stress away from an athlete can be essential as a result of proper now taking part in the professionals is bodily, but additionally psychological, so I believe they’re two various things. They’re splitting the stress with me in a roundabout way for certain. Additionally my coach as properly. So I believe that is a extremely optimistic aspect.”
Picture Credit score: Getty Photos. Shang Juncheng in motion at Wimbledon towards Cristian Garin.
Shang was cheered on by his dad and mum throughout his first-round victory towards former quarter-finalist Cristian Garin at Wimbledon. The 19-year-old is competing in his eleventh tour-level occasion of the season this week. On the identical stage final season, Shang had performed six ATP Tour occasions.
Along with his stand up the PIF ATP Rankings, the period of time on the highway has elevated and Shang is grateful to have his guardian’s firm when he travels.
“I believe tennis will be described as a lonely sport,” Shang stated. “Generally it is powerful to elucidate the way you’re really feeling, so I believe communication with everyone seems to be crucial.
“We’re tremendous shut as a household and touring collectively. We have to know the whole lot about one another and what’s going on within the workforce and I believe typically a scarcity of communication may cause a little bit little bit of an issue. Perhaps not sufficient belief and that causes lots of stress on the courtroom as properly, so I believe thus far we’re doing nice. I hope to proceed this belief between all of us.”
#NextGenATP Shang, who’s at the moment third within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Jeddah, will likely be hoping he can upset Grigor Dimitrov within the second spherical at SW19 to increase his and his household’s keep in west London.
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