Shang-hai Surprise: The Juncheng Shang Thread

PSNELKE

Legend
When Schwartzman was at Shang's current age (17 years 9 months), he was ranked #773

Shang is #184 now and you're telling me he will "linger around Top 150 for most of his career"? LOL

Did you watch a single game of his? Name one impressive thing in his game that includes a swing. It's one thing to play Top 500 to Top 100 players all the time and rising the rankings. What does he have to hurt legit and consistent Top 100 players?
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
Did you watch a single game of his? Name one impressive thing in his game that includes a swing. It's one thing to play Top 500 to Top 100 players all the time and rising the rankings. What does he have to hurt legit and consistent Top 100 players?
Dude, he is 17 years old. You are missing this very important detail.

There are no other players younger than 18 in the entire Top 500. That makes his accomplishments pretty noteworthy if you ask me.

I think it's insanely premature to write him off as a perennial Top 150 type of player, seeing how he hasn't fully developed in his tennis, or even physically just yet
 
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Bukowski

Professional
I have lots of respect for the smaller/craftier players. Didn't know about the Rios connection. They still together?
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Ah interesting they'd ditch him with all the recent success. Must've been serious. When former stars team up w/ up and coming players its usually indicative of a massive talent.
Rios is more into bodybuilding lately, as opposed to champion building. He is almost cartoonishly “cut.”
 

Bukowski

Professional
Rios is more into bodybuilding lately, as opposed to champion building. He is almost cartoonishly “cut.”

I always have hope characters like him will drop comments that reveal tour secrets like doping and match fixing etc. Netflix media attention makes it seem like everyone really likes the royal celebrity treatment though.
 

Pmasterfunk

Hall of Fame
I always have hope characters like him will drop comments that reveal tour secrets like doping and match fixing etc. Netflix media attention makes it seem like everyone really likes the royal celebrity treatment though.
He's already made some claims to that effect, here from 2020:
And there's also that time he said Agassi avoided a doping test by claiming his son was getting kidnapped. This dates back to 2004 or so.

Anyway, I'm glad to see Shang is winning matches, though I'm still sad about Rios being out of the picture.
 

Bukowski

Professional
He's already made some claims to that effect, here from 2020:
And there's also that time he said Agassi avoided a doping test by claiming his son was getting kidnapped. This dates back to 2004 or so.

Anyway, I'm glad to see Shang is winning matches, though I'm still sad about Rios being out of the picture.

This is exactly the story I had in mind!
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
It’s a stretch to think he will upset Tiafoe unless bad Frances shows up. Still, to join Alcaraz as a 17-year-old winning his first slam MD match is outstanding!
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
well, Miami open owned by IMG, I assume all WCs will go to their players
Usually. They can make an exception when a legend needs a WC to get in (Muzziah ‘22) but if you’re an up and coming IMG talent you get an inside lane.

It’s odd that Nava got a WC this year and in 2022 but had to qualify in 2021. I think it’s a first time in via WC for Bergs and Daniel.

Also, they usually offer five WCs but this is one shy. Do they have hope that Djokovic gets a last minute waiver?
 

JJGUY

Hall of Fame
Usually. They can make an exception when a legend needs a WC to get in (Muzziah ‘22) but if you’re an up and coming IMG talent you get an inside lane.

It’s odd that Nava got a WC this year and in 2022 but had to qualify in 2021. I think it’s a first time in via WC for Bergs and Daniel.

Also, they usually offer five WCs but this is one shy. Do they have hope that Djokovic gets a last minute waiver?

the one is for Thiem
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Lessons can be gathered in 1R Miami from the ATP’s top enigma of style. Shang will play fellow lefty Adrian Mannarino, who will exploit every opening possible with his quirky style and racquet/string/tension setup.
 

buscemi

Legend
Shang takes down Ben Shelton in the opening round of Atlanta to rise to a career-high #148 in the rankings. Intriguing match against Nishikori in the second round.
 

buscemi

Legend
Solid start to the season for Shang, beating Djere, van de Zandschulp, and Tiafoe before falling in 3 sets to Rublev in the Hong Kong SF.

He faces Mac McDonald in the 1st round of the AO and could face Bublik in the second round if he wins.
 

buscemi

Legend
Gritty five set win over McDonald after falling down 2-1 in sets. The reward is a second round match against Nagal, who upset Bublik. I like his chances there.
 

buscemi

Legend
Solid win for Shang after a rough first set against Nagal. Pretty much no chance he beats Alcaraz in the next round, but it should be a good test to gauge his progress.
 

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
Solid win for Shang after a rough first set against Nagal. Pretty much no chance he beats Alcaraz in the next round, but it should be a good test to gauge his progress.
win or lose, I'm sure there will be some point of the tournament material on display. so much talent and speed with these two oncourt.
 

roysid

Legend
Solid win for Shang after a rough first set against Nagal. Pretty much no chance he beats Alcaraz in the next round, but it should be a good test to gauge his progress.
Yes first time I saw his match vs Naval. For a set and half it looked like easy win for Naval. The loud Indian fans on courtside also did not make it easy for Shang. But once Shang stabilized, there was no looking back .
I was impressed by Shang's demeanor, he kept his emotions in check. The same cannot be said of Nagal whose body language was pure frustration by 4th set.
 

Topspin7

Rookie
Carlito crushed Shang like a tin can. And yes, I am considering the injury factor. The first set (before Shang was exhibiting leg issues) was the same level of beat down as the second.

Shang needs to beef up his game, physically and mentally. Hopefully this will be a learning experience he can build on.
 
Carlito crushed Shang like a tin can. And yes, I am considering the injury factor. The first set (before Shang was exhibiting leg issues) was the same level of beat down as the second.

Shang needs to beef up his game, physically and mentally. Hopefully this will be a learning experience he can build on.
Yes, Shang looked like he was not ready for that level. Maybe just an off day. Maybe he was a little injured before and aggravated whatever it was. Any way you look at it, that was an old fashioned beatdown by Carlos. That's what he should be doing in the earlier rounds.
 

buscemi

Legend
Solid, straight set win over Garin, and Shang rises to a career-high #82 in the live rankings at 19.4 years old. Tall task against Dimitrov in the next round.
 

buscemi

Legend
Shang beats Shelton, 7-6, 6-4 to get to the Atlanta QF, where he has a winnable match against Purcell. He moves back to #82 in the live rankings at age 19, and he's now 3-0 against Shelton, winning 6/7 sets they've played. Looks like we have another young player making some noise. I feel like next year will be his breakout year.
 

rixiang

New User
I He turns 18 in 3 months. If he doesn't have any juice on his shots by now, he never will. He's too short, no serve, no power. He can milk the tour through his athleticism alone for a decade until that's gone as well. He'll linger around Top 150 for most of his career, doesn't help that he has a temper either
You once asserted he can only be a Top 150 type of player, yet he is close to Year-end Top 50 now at age 19.

Definitely not
What gives you confidence to make such judgement again?
 

PSNELKE

Legend
You once asserted he can only be a Top 150 type of player, yet he is close to Year-end Top 50 now at age 19.


What gives you confidence to make such judgement again?

He got that ranking solely off of tha fact that he can run and retrieve like a bunny. He has no game for Top 20. No power, no skill
 

buscemi

Legend
Great win after a five set battle against Bublik. Still well short of turning 20, Shang rises to a career-high #66 in the live rankings. He should also have a solid shot against the winner of Carballés Baena and Choinski in the second round, with the winner of that match also going five sets.
 

JJGUY

Hall of Fame
His coach is Martin Alund, another former player from Argentina , it seems all his coaches are from South America for some reason, maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe he (or I should say his dad) likes the way they train the players.
 

buscemi

Legend
Shang straight sets Hanfmann to reach the Chengdu Open final against Musetti. At 19 years-old, he reaches a career-high #53 in the live rankings and is looking better than ever. I'm expecting him to make some real noise on the tour next year if he can stay healthy.
 
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