China’s rising tennis talent Shang Juncheng faced his second consecutive defeat at the Next Gen ATP Finals, falling to American Nishesh Basavareddy with scores of 3-4(4), 4-2, 4-2, 4-1 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 19-year-old World No. 50 began the match strongly on Thursday, securing the first set in a tense 4-3 tie-breaker. However, Basavareddy, ranked World No. 138, rallied to take control, winning the next three sets. His victory not only marked his first career ATP Tour win but also kept his hopes alive for advancing to the semi-finals.
Earlier in the tournament, Shang made his debut in the Red Group with a 3-1 loss to France’s Luca Van Assche. Despite the setbacks, he remains determined as he prepares to face American Alex Michelsen, who has already secured a spot in the last four with a 2-0 record.
Basavareddy, now holding a 1-1 record in the group, will compete against sixth seed Van Assche on Friday, aiming to clinch his place in the semi-finals. The competition intensifies as these young athletes vie for prominence on the international stage.
Reference(s):
China's Shang suffers 2nd consecutive defeat at Next Gen ATP Finals
cgtn.com
