Shanghai, Chinese mainland – Wildcard entrant Shang Juncheng came tantalizingly close to causing an upset at the Shanghai Masters, but ultimately fell to Portugal’s Nuno Borges in a three-set showdown that had the capacity crowd on its feet.
Shang grabbed an early break to lead 4–2 in the opening set, only for Borges to level the score and force a tiebreak. Borges sealed the first set 7–5 with a crisp forehand, setting the tone for the physical battle to come under sweltering heat and humidity.
After missing a set point, Shang took a medical timeout that seemed to reset his rhythm. On his return, he unleashed a booming serve to clinch the second set 6–4, pushing the match into a decisive third set.
The final set was a back-and-forth affair. Borges secured a crucial break in the eighth game, but Shang answered with fierce determination, earning two break-point opportunities at match point. Borges, however, held his nerve to close out the contest 6–3.
With Shang’s exit, the Shanghai Masters will see no entrants from the Chinese mainland in the singles draw, as the tournament moves into its final stages.
Elsewhere in Shanghai, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev edged past Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6–3, 7–6(5) in a bid to recapture form. Meanwhile, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev was stunned by France’s Arthur Rinderknech 4–6, 6–3, 6–2. Rinderknech, who ousted Zverev at Wimbledon earlier this year, will face Czech talent Jiri Lehecka after Lehecka’s straight-sets win over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov (6–4, 6–4).
Reference(s):
China's Shang falls short at Shanghai Masters, Zverev stunned
cgtn.com
