China’s Shang Juncheng achieved the biggest victory of his career on Saturday evening by beating Karen Khahanov at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. With his 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory, Shang noted his first victory against a top 10 contradictor in the PIF ATP ranking and went to the third round for the first time on an ATP Masters 1000.
“Incredible match against Karen today. He is a very solid top 10 player,” said 20-year-old #nextgenatp Star, who was a perfect three-for-three on breakpoints, according to Infosys ATP statistics. “When I came in the game, I didn’t think too much, just wanted to set up a show for the people. I didn’t start perfectly in the game, but kept fighting, kept focusing every point, played really happy, regardless of winning or losing.
“I’m glad I won the victory. But in general, just happy with the performance.”
Shang is the youngest of three Chinese players who have reached the third round of Shanghai, with all three authorities since 2023. Zhang Zhizhen went to that phase that year, while Wu Yibing reached the performance in 2024. Shang is also the second Chinese player who earned a top 10 win in the home floor, after buyunchaokete Beat Andrey Reflev in Beijing.
Shang and Khachanov exchanged twice in the opening set. In the second set, Shang rode a series of winners to victory, claimed the last three games of 3-3 and rattled the last six points of the game.
“I think that in general, as I said, I didn’t think too much. Sometimes the winner comes without thinking,” added Shang, who was welcomed by family in the crowd, including his grandmother. “If you think too much, you might be tight at the time, I thought,” Ok, time to work, time to get it done. ”
“Against players like Karen, you may have only one chance to close it. If I don’t, it might be the game, it can be a rut in the third set, you never know. But I am glad I kept the focus. And at the end it went smoothly.”
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