In a thrilling opener at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, China’s World No. 50 Shang Juncheng faced a challenging start, falling to France’s Luca Van Assche in four sets: 4-3(3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3(5). The 19-year-old Shang, making his debut at this prestigious event, delivered a captivating performance but ultimately could not secure the win against his 20-year-old opponent.
Shang began the match with confidence, showcasing his powerful forehand to take the opening tie-breaker 7-3. Riding high from lifting his maiden tour-level title in Chengdu in October, he aimed to carry that momentum into this tournament. In the second set, Shang continued to fight back, executing a remarkable forehand volley to clinch the set 4-2, leveling the match and keeping his hopes alive.
However, Van Assche, whose season highlight includes a third-round appearance at the Australian Open earlier this year, rebounded strongly. The Frenchman dominated the third set, winning 4-1 with a display of aggressive baseline play and precise shot-making that left Shang struggling to respond.
The fourth set proved to be a nail-biter, with both players exchanging powerful shots and holding their serves to push the set into another tie-breaker. In a tense finale, Van Assche edged ahead, sealing the match by winning the tie-break 7-5 after Shang’s forehand narrowly missed the sideline.
“It’s always tough playing against Shang,” Van Assche remarked after the match. “He’s a great competitor, and I had to give everything on the court today.”
Looking ahead, Van Assche will next face Alex Michelsen from the USA, aiming to build on his strong start in the Red Group. Meanwhile, Shang will have an opportunity to bounce back when he takes on another American, Nishesh Basavareddy, later on Thursday.
The Next Gen ATP Finals continues to showcase the rising stars of tennis, and fans around the world are eagerly watching as these young talents make their mark on the global stage.
