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Lars Hamer

Reuters

Jerry Shang Juncheng is focusing on “staying alive” after a bout of illness before the ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah – the last stop before the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open – wiped out any chances of preparing for the new season.
The ATP Next Gen Finals is the final competition of the 2024 season, and depending on how far Shang progresses, the turnaround for the 2025 campaign is likely to be a matter of days.
The Chengdu Open champion enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024 and climbed to a career-high world ranking of 47 in October after winning that maiden title.
The 19-year-old is looking to cap off the season with another trophy at the Next Gen tournament, which features eight of the game’s brightest players aged 20 and under competing in the Saudi Arabian city.
Shang did not elaborate on what illness had struck him down, but in the build-up to the 2024 season, he previously said flu affected his preparation. In 2023, he missed two months of tennis because of glandular fever.
“Each tournament is different [and] obviously each player is different. For example, Next Gen is indoors [and] It’s very fast [but] Hong Kong is outdoors, maybe a little bit slower,” Shang said after losing his first match in Jeddah to France’s Luca Van Assche 4-3, 2-4, 4-1, 4-3.

“For me, right now, it’s about getting the mindset straight [to progress past the group stages]. Try to think as positively as possible and just play every point.
“It’s really tight scheduling for where the Next Gen timing is, but I feel like everyone has had a good preseason, except for me,” Shang said.
“I was sick for a long time, and I don’t think I really worked on anything. The goal is to stay alive right now, to be able to play healthy, and let’s see what 2025 has for me.”
Despite the opening-game loss, Shang has been enjoying his time in Saudi Arabia.
“Everything has been, so far, really good, and I really like the environment,” he said. “The WTA finals was in Riyadh, which was quite fun actually – when I meet [Zheng Qinwen], I’m gonna ask her about it as well.
“There’s always a moment or a key moment that one country or one individual has to push the sport forward, and I’m glad Saudi is doing it. Not many tournaments were held here in the past … so I’m glad that this is happening, and hopefully, in the future, there will be more to come.”

Shang is the son of former China football international Shang Yi and former table tennis world champion Wu Na. He said his desire to win and competitive spirit were down to having professional athletes as parents.
“I think the mentality is the same, that you go on court, you try 100 per cent,” Shang said about the influence of his parents.
“That’s what they’ve been telling me all the time: you’ve got to be a competitor, but at the same time, you’ve got to know your values – sometimes winning isn’t the most important thing. [It’s] more to enjoy the competition and the people watching you.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s [the people] who are next to you that’s the most important thing.”
This year’s edition of the hard court event is the second to be held in Saudi Arabia and will hand out US$2.05 million in prize money overall but, perhaps more importantly, serve as a barometer in identifying the game’s next big stars.


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ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

ATP Next Gen Finals: illness mars Jerry Shang’s preparation for pre-season, Hong Kong Open

Jerry Shang of China says his goal is to “stay alive right now, to be able to play healthy, and let’s see what 2025 has for me”. Photo: Xinhua

Jerry Shang lost his first match at the Next Gen ATP Finals to Luca Van Assche of France. Photo: Xinhua

Jerry Shang climbed to a career-high ranking of 47 in October after winning his maiden title in Chengdu. Photo: AFP

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Hong Kong’s players celebrate reaching next year’s EAFF finals in South Korea. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Ng Yu-hei skips past a Guam player at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Tennis

China

The 19-year-old, son of former Chinese professional athletes, loses first match in Jeddah but is working on getting his ‘mindset straight’


The 19-year-old, son of former Chinese professional athletes, loses first match in Jeddah but is working on getting his ‘mindset straight’.


Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA)

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open

Hong Kong

Saudi Arabia

ATP Next Gen Finals: illness mars Jerry Shang’s preparation for pre-season, Hong Kong Open

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 19-year-old, son of former Chinese professional athletes, loses first match in Jeddah but is working on getting his ‘mindset straight’

The 19-year-old, son of former Chinese professional athletes, loses first match in Jeddah but is working on getting his ‘mindset straight’