Shang topples top seed Musetti to win Chengdu Open title on home soil
Juncheng Shang becomes first player born after 2004 to win an ATP title
(Imago/Panoramic)
Chinese Juncheng Shang won the Chengdu Open final by beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the top seed, 7-6 (4), 6-1 at the Sichuan International Tennis Center on Tuesday.
To claim the win, it took Shang nearly 100 minutes, out of which more than 60 were consumed by a tight first set.
The finalists opened on a disciplined note, remaining on serve until the Chinese converted a break point in the 11th game. Receiving to stay in the match, Musetti stepped up to break back and force a tiebreak, where Shang eventually prevailed.
The following set panned out differently as the Beijing-born secured two breaks on the fast-fading Italian’s serve. Shang sealed the trophy on his serve when a lob by Musetti landed long as the crowd erupted in cheers for the local boy, who registered five aces and 21 winners during the match.
Shang becomes first player born after 2004 to win an ATP title
The result marked Shang’s first tour-level triumph. Also, he became the first man born after 2004 to win a trophy on the tour.
Shang, ranked No 55, defeated Japanese wildcard Kei Nishikori (6-4, 6-4) in his opener at the ATP 250 event on home soil. He then took down Russian Roman Safiullin, the No 8 seed (5-7, 6-3, 6-3), Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the second seed (6-4, 7-6 (8)), and German Yannick Hanfmann (6-4, 6-4).
Tuesday’s final was notably the 19-year-old’s first on-court meeting with world No 19 Musetti.
For the Italian, this was a fifth defeat in the finals in the 2024 season. Previously, he ended as the runner-up at the Queen’s Club Championship, Croatia Open, Cagliari (Challenger), and Turin (Challenger).
Musetti, ranked No 19, defeated Australian Christopher O’Connell (6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (4)), Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, the No 5 seed (6-2, 5-7, 6-2) and Russian qualifier Alibek Kachmazov (6-4, 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Chengdu tournament.
