Who is the up-and-coming Chinese tennis player aiming to surpass Alcaraz in strength? Nineteen-year-old Shang Juncheng discusses his ambitions and playing style.
Shang Juncheng, born in 2005 and currently ranked No. 115 in the ATP, is clear about his trajectory in tennis. He views players like Alcaraz and Sinner as role models for their achievements but emphasizes that he’s not looking to imitate their playing styles or behaviors. Instead, he aims to learn from them, much like his experience with Carlos Alcaraz during the Australian Open.
In an exclusive interview with Spanish website puntodebreak.com during the ATP Challenger in Madrid, Shang expressed his desire to climb the ATP rankings swiftly. Reflecting on his match against Alcaraz, Shang noted the Spaniard’s ability to control points and create opportunities, qualities he aims to develop in his own game. He also admires Novak Djokovic and hopes to emulate aspects of Djokovic’s playing style in the future.
While Shang acknowledges Alcaraz, Sinner, and Rune as influential figures, he admits to not having a close relationship with them yet. However, he looks forward to getting to know them better and potentially training with them in the future, especially praising Holger Rune for his captivating playing style and Carlos Alcaraz for his sportsmanship.
