Shang Juncheng, 19, Saves 5 Match Points in Epic Win at Madrid Open

Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng, 19, defeated Corentin Moutet of France in a nearly 4-hour battle vs at the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday. Shang won the match 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(10), saving 5 match points to reach the second round.

The match was the longest of Shang's career, and he said he would have had no regrets even if he had lost, as the level of play was "insane" against an "amazing player" in Moutet. Shang hit more winners than Moutet (43-25) and won a higher percentage of first serve points (70% vs 63%). However, neither player was efficient at converting break points, with Shang at 4 of 17 (24%) and Moutet at 2 of 13 (15%).

This victory marks a significant achievement for the young Chinese player, who demonstrated his resilience and skill in overcoming the challenges posed by his experienced opponent. Shang, who is ranked a career-best No. 103 in the ATP Rankings, advances to the second round to face Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Why this matters: Shang's win showcases the rising talent of young players on the ATP Tour and highlights the increasing competitiveness of men's tennis. His success at the Madrid Open could inspire more young players from China and Asia to pursue professional tennis careers.

Other notable winners on Wednesday included Borna Coric, Taro Daniel, Jack Draper, Lukas Klein, Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Shevchenko, and Luca Van Assche in three-set matches. Straight-set winners included Daniel Altmaier, Mariano Navone, Facundo Bagnis, Luciano Darderi, Fabian Marozsan, Jaume Munar, Thiago Seyboth Wild, and Botic van de Zandschulp. Upcoming matches on Thursday feature Rafael Nadal against Darwin Blanch, Roberto Bautista Agut versus Daniel Elahi Galan, Roberto Carballes Baena against Dominik Koepfer, and Albert Ramos-Vinolas versus Pavel Kotov.

Key Takeaways

• Chinese teen Shang Juncheng defeated Moutet in nearly 4-hour Madrid Open match.
• Shang won 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(10), saving 5 match points to reach 2nd round.
• Shang hit more winners, won more 1st serve points, but struggled with break points.
• Shang's win showcases rising talent of young players on ATP Tour.
• Other notable winners and upcoming matches at Madrid Open highlighted.