If in the last US Open Chinese tennis saw Yibing Wu record the first victory in the country’s Open Era in a males’s draw of a Grand Slam, now in the Australian Open it was Juncheng Shang’s turn to make history as well as become the very first Chinese to win on Australian courts to beat the German Oscar Otte with partials of 6/2, 6/4, 6/7 (2-7) and 7/5.
Originating from the quali, the 17-year-old Chinese saved two break-points in the very first collection and afterwards no longer had his offer endangered to leave the court with his initial success at ATP level. He had actually formerly played three matches generally draws, at the Rio Open and also the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells as well as Miami last year, losing in all of them.
In the 2nd round, the young tennis player will encounter a much tougher suit, challenging the North American Frances Tiafoe, seed 16, who had problem in his debut at Melbourne Park, requiring four sets to conquer the German Daniel Altmaier with the last rating of 6/3, 6/3, 6/7 (5-7) and 7/6 (8-6), after 3h28 of fight.
Welcomed by the company, Wu this time around failed to advance in a Grand Slam. The Chinese provided Corentin Moutet a tough time, but fell in a five-set battle, defined with ball game of 6/4, 5/7, 6/2, 4/6 and 7/5. The Frenchman is now waiting for the Swiss Stan Wawrinka or the Slovakian Alex Molcan.
One more Asian from the quali, the Japanese Yosuke Watanuki kept the momentum in the main draw as well as overcame the French Arthur Rinderknech, racking up a final rating of 6/3, 6/3 and 6/2 to assure himself in the second round. He will encounter the American Sebastian Korda, 29th favored, that beat the Chilean Cristian Garin by 3 sets to 1, with partials of 6/4, 1/6, 6/3 and also 6/2.
