PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah Update: Shang Juncheng closes Jeddah after Chengdu title | ATP Tour

PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah Update: Shang closes Jeddah after Chengdu title

Watch the latest standings on Live Race To Jeddah

September 25, 2024

#NextGenATP Chinese star Shang Juncheng made history on Tuesday at the Chengdu Open, becoming the first player born in 2005 to win an ATP Tour title.

The 19-year-old’s success at home has also strengthened the Next Gen ATP Finals-launched PIF qualification hopes, with the Chinese set to compete at the 20-and-under event in Jeddah in December.

Shang moved up to second place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, 759 points ahead of ninth-placed Vilius Gaubas, who is just outside the qualifying spots.

PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

World No. 55 Shang impressed at home at the ATP 250 event, surpassing Kei Nishikori, Roman Safiullin, Alexander Bublik, Yannick Hanfmann and Lorenzo Musetti to become just the second Chinese man to win a tour-level title after Wu Yibing won . in Dallas in 2023.

“It’s always special to play at home, let alone win the title,” Shang told ATPtour.com after the win. “I never thought I could do this at the beginning of my season, but I’m grateful for this. Just a special week. I was going game by game, not knowing what would happen in the next one.”

Earlier this month, American Student Tien boosted his chances of qualifying by winning his second ATP Challenger Tour crown of the season in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old is ranked seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and is aiming to make his debut at the event.

Eighth seed Coleman Wong became the first Hong Kong player since 1972 to win an ATP Tour main draw when he advanced to the second round in Chengdu. After qualifying, the 20-year-old lost to Brandon Nakashima.

Shang and fourth seed Jakub Mensik are at the ATP 500 event in Beijing this week, while Race leader Arthur Fils and third seed Alex Michelsen take to the court at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.