Teenager Shang Juncheng triumphs in Chengdu to be second Chinese tennis player to win ATP title

CHENGDU – Teenager Shang Juncheng defeated Italy’s Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in the Chengdu Open final on Sept 24 to become the second Chinese player to win an ATP title.

It marks a first ATP Tour title for Shang, who is China’s No. 2 men’s tennis player and ranked 52nd in the world. The 19-year-old former junior world No. 1 is also the youngest ATP winner this season.

He said: “I’m really delighted to have lifted the trophy here in front of my home crowd.

“While I felt some pressure to perform, the crowd really encouraged and supported me to play my best tennis throughout the week. It’s been amazing.”

Li Na remains China’s most successful singles player with Grand Slam triumphs at the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, while there are several women hoping to emulate her, including Australia Open runner-up and Paris Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen.

But success on the men’s side has largely eluded the nation, as Wu Yibing became the first Chinese player to capture an ATP trophy when he won the Dallas Open in 2023.

Shang has also strengthened his push to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the first time. The competition, hosted in Saudi Arabia in December, will feature the world’s top singles players aged 20 and under from the ATP Tour.

In the Hangzhou Open, Croatian wild card Marin Cilic became the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history on Sept 24 with success in his first tour-level event since February.

Cilic, who turns 36 on Sept 28, won his first title since 2021 with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) win over China’s No. 1 and sixth seed Zhang Zhizhen, who was playing his first tour-level final.

The triumph for Cilic, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, lifted the former world No. 3 from 777th at the start of the tournament to 212th in the ATP rankings.

It was the 21st title of Cilic’s career, with the Hangzhou Open having replaced the Zhuhai Championships on the calendar.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz welcomed the addition of Rafael Nadal to Spain’s Davis Cup team for the Finals in November and hoped the event in Malaga will not mark the end of the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s career.

Nadal was a surprise choice for the Nov 19-24 Finals. He last competed at the Paris Olympics in July and subsequently missed the US Open and the Laver Cup in September over fitness concerns.

The 38-year-old has said he expects to end his injury-plagued career in 2024 after a hip injury that required surgery limited his appearances in 2023, and there has been speculation the Davis Cup could be his last event.

“It’s always great having Rafa around. I miss him. I’m not going to lie, I missed him in the Laver Cup,” said the 21-year-old Alcaraz, who reached the Paris Olympics men’s doubles quarter-finals with Nadal.

“Obviously, as much time as I can spend with him, it’s a privilege for me.

“I don’t want to think that it’s a potential last dance for him in Malaga. I just want to... enjoy seeing him on court as much as I can. It’s great support having him in the team. He can bring a lot of experience to the Davis Cup.”

Nadal had targeted a return at the Laver Cup before eventually withdrawing, and the Spaniard has not said where he plans to play before the Davis Cup.

On the women’s circuit, four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka said on Sept 25 she “didn’t want to have regrets” after confirming she has teamed up with Serena Williams’ renowned former coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Former world No. 1 Osaka, now ranked 73rd, defeated Lucia Bronzetti of Italy 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the WTA 1000 China Open with the Frenchman Mouratoglou in her players’ box.

The 26-year-old Japanese split from Belgian coach Wim Fissette in September as she attempts to return to the form that propelled her to the top of the women’s game. ReuterS, AFP