First-Time Winner Highlight: Shang Juncheng dishes on teddy bears & tiramisu | ATP Tour

First Time Winner

First-Time Winner Highlight: Shang dishes on teddy bears & tiramisu

Chinese language #NextGenATP star displays on his particular second

September 24, 2024

#NextGenATP star Shang Juncheng made historical past on Tuesday by turning into the primary Chinese language participant to win an ATP Tour title on dwelling soil on the Chengdu Open.

The 19-year-old additionally turned the primary participant born in 2005 or later to triumph on the ATP Tour. Getting into the week, he had not made a tour-level championship match.

ATPTour.com caught up with Shang to debate his maiden second, an essential mindset change, his fortunate charms and extra.

What does it imply to win your first ATP Tour title?
It has been a troublesome week, robust matches, robust opponents, and I believe it is particular to beat that, and I really feel very grateful to play in [front of] my my dwelling crowd, and so they have been wonderful this week. All of the energies have been nice. My workforce, they helped me a lot. My household that is supporting me all the way in which all through the week. Simply tremendous, tremendous completely satisfied.

This can be a historic second not solely successful your first title, however making extra historical past for Chinese language tennis. How way more particular does that make this and what ought to folks find out about your friendship with the remainder of the Chinese language stars?
It is at all times particular to play at dwelling, not mentioning to win a title. I’ve by no means thought that I’d do it this early in my profession, however I am grateful for this one. Only a tremendous particular week. I used to be going match by match, not figuring out what’s going to occur within the subsequent one.

All of [the other Chinese players], they help me, and we help one another. We’re type of competing in opposition to one another, the Chinese language gamers. I play one subsequent week in Beijing, really, and I believe it may be a very good event, good battle, and tremendous excited for what’s coming subsequent.

What have been the important thing moments of your profession that helped you get so far?
To be trustworthy there are a number of key moments, however I believe what modified is the angle in direction of tennis. I believe I have been attempting to position tennis within the quantity two spot. It isn’t crucial factor. It would not matter what number of titles you win. On the finish, it [is about] the folks, the folks round you and the household round you. That is extra essential. So I believe I have been specializing in myself, my mates, household, a bit bit greater than tennis. So once I’m on courtroom, I take pleasure in it. Once I’m off the courtroom, it is not at all times about tennis.

May you are taking a second to acknowledge a number of the key figures in your life and profession who’ve helped you to succeed in this milestone?
My dad and mom, they’ve at all times been supporting me since day one. My grandparents, they’re at all times actually useful, actually supporting me on a regular basis. And my coach, Martin and the IMG Academy household, they have been so useful in my profession. Once I was 14, practising with all of the professionals, it is actually a tremendous place to practise, at IMG, and I am grateful for all of the folks round me.

First time feeling at dwelling 🇨🇳🏆

Shang turns into the primary participant born in 2005 or later to win an ATP Tour title after taking down Musetti 7-6(4) 6-1!@ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/9w8t4Alnlp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2024

Each of your dad and mom are athletes. What’s one lesson specifically you have got realized from every of them?
I believe to not present feelings and to be thankful for what you have got as a result of while you’re profitable, it doesn’t suggest that you simply actually deserve it, perhaps since you’re fortunate. And when others fail, it doesn’t suggest that they are simply dangerous at one thing. Perhaps they’re unfortunate.

You do not decide folks by what you see within the first place. So I believe that is one thing actually, actually essential in our household, that we attempt to not decide, to at all times admire and to at all times be taught to grow to be our higher selves.

You might be solely 19 years outdated, and you’re right here as an ATP Tour champion. What’s crucial lesson you’ve realized up to now couple of years because you’ve began this journey as an expert?
Some folks say that one profession will be actually, actually lengthy, however I believe the previous two years, they glided by like a flash. And I believe you do not get to play that a few years. Rapidly, perhaps I will be 30, 35, years outdated. So you must take pleasure in what you have got, and also you by no means know what is going on to occur tomorrow. So take pleasure in, benefit from the second. No matter you have got, attempt to reside 100 per cent, attempt to take pleasure in it.

You’ve lengthy collected teddy bears and so they have grow to be your fortunate charms. Would you thoughts telling followers about your present fortunate appeal(s), the place you bought it/them and why it’s essential to you?
I believe to have the bear sitting on the courtroom, you actually cannot get mad at a teddy bear. For those who get mad at a teddy bear, there’s one thing incorrect with you. So I attempt to preserve calm. Each time he falls down, I decide him up so [it] can have a very good positioning watching the match. It is actually a psychological factor. There’s probably not any secrets and techniques to it, simply to have a very good angle.

How would you describe your self as a participant, and the way would you describe your self off the courtroom?
I believe I am actually clear. On and off the courtroom. I am about the identical. Perhaps a bit crazier off. On courtroom, I am a bit extra calm, I am extra targeted, and I believe general, I am a extremely constructive man, at all times completely satisfied.

What do you contemplate to be your greatest ardour outdoors of tennis and may you inform us a bit bit about that curiosity?
I’d say golf. I believe that that is helped me lots with my persistence. It is a four-hour sport. You want principally the entire day to play by way of. And typically the circumstances are robust, windy, type of similar to tennis. So should you’re affected person in that, one thing off the courtroom, I consider it is a bit like coaching, you have got enjoyable on the identical time.

This can be a milestone second in your profession. How will you have fun this victory?
I believe by consuming tiramisu!