Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng delivered a career-defining performance at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, defeating world No. 9 Karen Khachanov 7-6(3), 6-3 to secure his first-ever victory over a Top 10 player. The 20-year-old's triumph electrified home crowds in east China's Shanghai Municipality as he advanced to the tournament's third round for the first time.
The match saw both players exchange early breaks before Shang clinched a tense first-set tiebreaker. Displaying remarkable composure, the rising star then broke Khachanov's serve at 5-3 in the second set before sealing victory with a decisive love game. "I played faster and more aggressively," Shang told reporters after the match, acknowledging the Russian's all-court prowess. "My strategies worked very well today."
Shang's next challenge comes against Portugal's Nuno Borges in the round of 32, while other notable results saw Italy's Jannik Sinner continue his dominant form with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Germany's Daniel Altmaier. The tournament's blend of established stars and emerging talent continues to highlight Asia's growing influence in global tennis.
