Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m super excited to share some awesome news with you all about an incredible achievement in the tennis world. Recently, I stumbled upon an article that caught my eye, and I just can’t wait to dive into it with you.
Chinese teenager Jerry Shang made history by winning his first ATP Tour title at the 2024 Chengdu Open. This was no ordinary victory; it was a dream come true for Shang and all the Chinese tennis fans out there. On September 24, 2024, Shang defeated top seed Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling match that ended 7-6(4), 6-1 in one hour and 39 minutes.
The match was filled with exciting moments, particularly in the first set where both players exchanged powerful shots. Shang drew first blood in the 11th game by converting a break point with a powerful forehand down the line. However, Musetti responded fiercely by winning four of the next five points to force a tiebreaker. In a closely fought tiebreaker where both players exchanged mini-breaks, Shang seized the initiative at 5-4 on serve and closed out the first set with a flourish, hitting two aces on the trot.
With his confidence surging and the crowd roaring, the teenage sensation raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set, breaking Musetti in the second game and delivering stunning winners to extend his lead to 5-1 in the sixth game. World No. 19 Musetti had two break points in the next game but Shang held his nerve, saving both before sealing the memorable victory on his second match point.
“I’m really delighted to have lifted the trophy here in front of my home crowd,” said Shang. “While I felt some pressure to perform, the crowd really encouraged and supported me to play my best tennis throughout the week. It’s been amazing.”
Shang’s poise and composure were exceptional throughout the tournament, leading the field in break points saved by successfully defending 21 out of 26. His mindset, he credits to his parents who have always encouraged him, especially in critical moments, helping him to relax.
While disappointed, 22-year-old Musetti paid tribute to his opponent’s stunning performance and will take inspiration from improving upon his semifinal loss here last year. “It’s been an honour to share the stage in Chengdu again,” Musetti said. “Improving my results from last year was my main goal, and I achieved that. Of course, I was fighting for more today and trying to lift the trophy, but it wasn’t meant to be. Jerry played his best tennis and deserved the victory.”
Shang’s journey to this milestone began earlier this month when he had a great run to the third round of the U.S. Open, where he let a two-set lead on former world No. 2 Casper Ruud disappear. He had a memorable first-set win over Alexander Bublik in New York as well.
In doubles action at the Chengdu Open, French defending champions Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul made history by becoming the first two-time and back-to-back champions of the tournament. They overcame a spirited fightback from Indian-French duo Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti to win 6-4, 4-6, 10-4 in one hour and 36 minutes.
Starting strong, the French duo converted their fourth break point of the opener to take a 3-2 lead and held on to clinch the first set. Both teams created break opportunities in the second set but it was Bhambri and Olivetti who secured the crucial break in the tenth game. In the super tie-breaker, Doumbia and Reboul surged to a 6-0 lead and held six match points at 9-3 before converting the second to defend their title with style.
“We played a great first set and had chances in the second to close it out in two sets,” said Doumbia. “But they came out strong at the end and broke us. In the super tie-break, we had an amazing start with some incredible points, and I’m very happy that we ended up winning this match.”
Reboul added, “We started well and finished well—the in-between was tough, maybe they were better at times. It’s always tough to win titles and we are very happy to win this tournament for the second time.”
More information is available on the tournament Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChengduOpenTennis, as well as on Instagram @chengduopentennis.
####