ATP roundup: Chinese teen Juncheng Shang prevails in Chengdu

Field Level Media|published: Tue 24th September, 10:42 2024

Aug 30, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; Juncheng Shang (CHN) hits a forehand against Casper Ruud (NOR)(not pictured) in a men's singles match on day five of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Chinese 19-year-old Juncheng Shang downed No. 1 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy to complete a memorable run to his first ATP title at the Chengdu Open in his home country Tuesday.

Shang hit five aces without a double fault and had a 21-12 edge in winners while Musetti committed 31 double faults. Shang broke a 2-2 tie in the first-set tiebreaker by winning three straight points and controlled the match from then on.

Shang, a left-hander ranked No. 55 in the world, defeated Japanese vet Kei Nishikori, No. 8 seed Roman Safiullin of Russia, No. 2 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and Germany's Yannick Hanfmann to reach the final.

Hangzhou Open

Marin Cilic of Croatia became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP tournament in history when he upset home favorite Zhizhen Zhang of China 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

Cilic, 35, won the 2014 U.S. Open and now has 21 ATP titles on his resume, but he had fallen to No. 373 in the world rankings after sitting out since February due to a knee injury. Against the sixth-seeded Zhang, he fired 18 aces, won 42 of 50 first-service points (84 percent) and saved both break points he faced.

Neither player broke serve until the 11th point of the first-set tiebreaker, which Cilic won to gain the advantage he needed. The second set played out very similarly, but Cilic took a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, fell behind 5-4 and won three straight points to end the match.

--Field Level Media

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