Shang Juncheng reignites spark in Shanghai return
A year after his last Masters 1000 breakthrough, the resilient Chinese wildcard battles through doubt and disruption to claim a vital home win, blending lefty spin with crowd-fueled fire.
On the sun-kissed hard courts of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Chinese wild card Shang Juncheng rediscovered his bite in a gritty scrap that mirrored his injury-plagued year. The 20-year-old lefty, absent from January until August due to a foot issue, outlasted Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 across one hour and 57 minutes, firing 32 winners to cap his biggest triumph since the layoff. Back on tour since Toronto in July and fresh off a second-round push in Chengdu last month, he turned the home pressure into propulsion, his spin-heavy game carving opportunities amid the baseline exchanges.
Injury’s grip loosens on familiar turf
Shang’s footwork, once shadowed by hesitation, sharpened as the match wore on, his underspin slices low-bouncing to jam Kovacevic’s flat drives and open angles for crosscourt replies. In the opener, he held firm at 4-4 with a deep return that forced a down-the-line error, then broke via an inside-out backhand that hugged the line. The decider echoed that resolve, where a one–two rhythm of serve and forehand return sealed the break, transforming rehab doubts into on-court certainty. This victory, exactly one year from his prior Masters 1000 success, signals a tactical rebirth on the Plexicushion’s moderate pace, where his left arm’s curve disrupts more than it did on slower swings.
Earlier flashes of form, like his Hong Kong semifinals and Chengdu title last year—the first ATP Tour win by a Chinese player on home soil—hinted at untapped depth, now resurfacing at World No. 237. The Shanghai humidity thickened the air with expectation, yet he thrived, using the crowd’s pulse to steady his nerve in tiebreak scenarios avoided through clutch holds.
“This year has been the toughest so far in my life but it is not enough to knock me down,” Shang said. “But playing at home feels great, with a full crowd and everyone cheering as loud as they can for me, which gives me a lot of energy. As everyone says, if it doesn’t knock you down, you are going to come back stronger and that is what I am trying to do.”
Crowd energy powers underdog advances
Across the complex, American Jenson Brooksby sustained his momentum, dismantling James Trotter 7-6(2), 6-1 to edge toward the top 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings after starting the year unranked. The 24-year-old, riding Tokyo’s ATP 500 semifinals, unleashed serve-volley forays that exploited the surface’s grip, setting up a clash with Tallon Griekspoor’s baseline power. On Stadium Court, Benjamin Bonzi tamed Reilly Opelka’s booming serves 7-6(2), 6-4, relying on probing returns to advance against Gabriel Diallo, while Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina progressed when Wu Yibing retired injured after a 5-7 first set.
Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, buoyed by his Wimbledon fourth-round run, extended his edge to 2-0 over Ethan Quinn with a 6-3, 6-4 dispatch, varying spin to unsettle the American’s rhythm. Jesper de Jong grinded past Yi Zhou 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(3), his third-set lobs slicing crosscourt to capitalize on fading energy. Argentine Francisco Comesana cruised 6-4, 6-2 beyond Ugo Blanchet, as Camilo Ugo Carabelli gained entry when Terence Atmane, Cincinnati semifinalist, withdrew at 4-4 in the opener—highlighting how the hard courts’ demands amplify physical tolls.
Depth builds toward star-studded clashes
Nuno Borges navigated tiebreak tension 7-6(5), 7-6(5) against Botic van de Zandschulp, his steady returns preserving mental edge for the points haul. Alejandro Tabilo, Chengdu’s fresh champion, controlled Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-3 with inside-in forehands that pinned the baseline. Arthur Cazaux salvaged a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 escape from Pedro Martinez, his down-the-line passes rescuing match points in a duel of adapting tempos.
As Shang prepares for ninth seed Karen Khachanov, where net poaches might counter the Russian’s consistency, the draw hums with possibility—Novak Djokovic launches Friday versus Marin Cilic, with Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton poised to ignite further drama. These opening salvos, laced with resilience and tactical tweaks, underscore Shanghai’s role as a late-season forge, where home echoes and hard-court bite could reshape trajectories before the year fades.
