Shang Falls to Van Assche in Next Gen ATP Finals Opener

Chinese Teen’s Gritty Effort Ends in Four-Set Thriller

China’s rising tennis star Shang Juncheng, 19, kicked off his Next Gen ATP Finals debut with a rollercoaster battle against France’s Luca Van Assche in Jeddah. Despite flashes of brilliance, Shang fell 4-3(3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3(5) in a nail-biting opener that had fans on the edge of their seats .

Highlights & Heartbreaks

Shang, ranked World No. 50, dominated early with fierce forehand winners, clinching the first-set tiebreak. The Chengdu Open champ (his first ATP title ) fought back in the second set, but Van Assche—fresh off a breakout Australian Open run earlier this year—sealed the win with a clutch tiebreak performance.

What’s Next?

Shang faces America’s Nishesh Basavareddy on Thursday, while Van Assche takes on Alex Michelsen. Both young guns aim to level up in this AI-driven, no-line-judge tournament format . Can Shang bounce back? Stay tuned!

Reference(s):

China's Shang loses to France's Van Assche at Next Gen ATP Finals

cgtn.com