China’s rising tennis talent, Shang Juncheng, faced his second consecutive defeat at the Next Gen ATP Finals, falling to American Nishesh Basavareddy in a four-set match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 19-year-old Shang, currently ranked World No. 50, began the match with promise, claiming the first set 4-3 in a tense tie-break. Displaying his agility and precision, Shang seemed poised to turn his tournament debut around after his initial loss to France’s Luca Van Assche.
However, Basavareddy, the World No. 138, rallied in the second set, finding his rhythm and capitalizing on crucial points to win it 4-2. Riding the wave of momentum, the American maintained his dominance in the third and fourth sets, securing them 4-2 and 4-1 respectively. This victory marked the seventh seed’s first career win on the ATP Tour.
“It was an incredible match,” Basavareddy commented after the game. “Shang is a formidable opponent, and securing this win boosts my confidence going forward.”
With this victory, Basavareddy’s group stage record stands at 1-1. He will face sixth seed Luca Van Assche on Friday, aiming for a spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Shang is set to compete against another American, Alex Michelsen, who has already guaranteed his place in the last four with an impressive 2-0 record in the Red Group.
Despite the setbacks, Shang remains optimistic. “It’s all about learning and improving,” he said. “I’m grateful for the experience and looking forward to the next match.”
Reference(s):
China's Shang suffers 2nd consecutive defeat at Next Gen ATP Finals
cgtn.com
