Defending champion Shang Juncheng kicked off his title defense at the ATP Chengdu Open with a gritty 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. It was the young Chinese mainland star’s first match win since returning from foot surgery in March.
The left-hander, ranked World No. 138, saved six of seven break points according to Infosys ATP Stats and dug deep to rally from a 40-0 deficit in the third set, extending his lead to 5-3 before closing out the win with a love hold.
Shang missed the ATP Tour from January through July as he recovered in the lead-up to this home event in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. His comeback triumph has reignited local support and confidence ahead of tougher matchups.
Shang’s next test will be against American Brandon Nakashima, the tournament’s fourth seed, who advanced directly to the round of 16. If he continues to thrive, a second home title could be within reach.
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Shang starts Chengdu Open title defense with first win since surgery
cgtn.com
