Team Michael Chang surged ahead with a 4-3 lead against Team Li Na after the first day of the MGM Macau Tennis Masters on Tuesday in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
This event marks Asia's inaugural mixed men's and women's team tennis tournament and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Macao SAR's establishment. Both teams are captained by Grand Slam champions, Li Na and Michael Chang, adding star power to the competition.
Team Li Na features rising Chinese stars Shang Juncheng and Wang Xinyu, alongside Norway’s World No. 6 Casper Ruud. In contrast, Team Michael Chang is backed by Russia’s World No. 8 Andrey Rublev, Czech Republic’s 2023 French Open women's singles runner-up Karolina Muchova, and Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
The opening event tested players' precision, requiring them to hit multiple targets with limited forehand and backhand shots. Shang showcased his skills by hitting three targets, earning Team Li Na an initial point.
Subsequent matches were more competitive, each offering two points. Casper Ruud extended Team Li Na's lead by defeating Kei Nishikori in men's singles, bringing the score to 3-0. However, Andrey Rublev bounced back by overcoming Shang in the next match, narrowing the gap to 3-2. The day concluded with Rublev and Muchova teaming up to secure a victory in the mixed doubles, giving Team Michael Chang a narrow one-point advantage.
The MGM Macau Tennis Masters promises thrilling matches in the days ahead as both teams vie for the championship title.
Reference(s):
Team Michael Chang leads Team Li Na 4-3 at Macau Tennis Masters
cgtn.com
