Chinese rising star Shang Juncheng has secured his spot in the semifinals of the ATP Hong Kong Open, marking a significant milestone in his budding tennis career. In a thrilling three-set victory on Friday, Shang overcame Hungary's Fabian Marozsan, showcasing his growing prowess on the court.
Marozsan, who previously stunned the top-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev, started strong by taking the first set 6-1. However, Shang, now ranked 50th in the world, demonstrated his resilience and strategic gameplay. He sliced a sharp winner leading to a crucial break and captured the second set with a 6-3 score. Maintaining his momentum, Shang led once more in the third set, ultimately closing the match 6-4 after Marozsan's forehand went out of bounds.
Shang's impressive run at the Hong Kong Open follows his breakthrough last January, which propelled him into the Top 100 at just 19 years old—the first Chinese teenager to achieve this feat. As the tournament progresses, Shang is set to face Japanese wildcard Kei Nishikori in the semifinals, who recently defeated Great Britain's Cameron Norrie.
Stay tuned as Shang continues his quest for the title, inspiring young athletes and tennis enthusiasts across the globe.
Reference(s):
Shang sees off Maroszan for place in ATP Hong Kong Open semifinals
cgtn.com
