China's rising tennis star Shang Juncheng hit another roadblock at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, falling 3-4(4), 4-2, 4-2, 4-1 to American Nishesh Basavareddy on Thursday. The 19-year-old, ranked World No. 50, now sits at 0-2 in the Red Group after earlier losing to France's Luca Van Assche.
From Strong Start to Heartbreak 💔
Shang showed flashes of brilliance early, clinching the first set in a nail-biting tie-break. But Basavareddy, World No. 138, flipped the script with aggressive play, claiming three straight sets. The win marks the American’s first-ever ATP Tour victory—a milestone moment for the seventh seed.
What’s Next? 🔜
Basavareddy (1-1) faces Luca Van Assche on Friday for a shot at the semifinals. Meanwhile, Shang—seeded fourth—will battle Alex Michelsen, who’s already secured a semifinal spot. Can Shang rally to salvage his tournament? 🤔
The Next Gen ATP Finals, featuring tennis’ brightest under-21 stars, continues to deliver high-octane drama. Stay tuned! ⚡️
