He’s 17 and making history: Juncheng Shang, from sacking Marcelo Ríos to being the first Chinese to win at the Australian Open

the teenager juncheng shang monday entered the history of his country by becoming the first Chinese tennis player to win the men’s final at the Australian Open.

“I think it’s huge for Chinese men’s tennis. We’ve had very good players among women, but honestly not big names among men.”said Shang, who calls himself on the circuit Jerry.

“I think I’m very lucky to be part of it and to be a member of this team. I hope I can do something great in the future.”said the 17-year-old player, who is also the youngest in the men’s draw at this first Grand Slam of 2023.

The tennis player, who entered the main draw after avoiding qualification, played almost three hours of match against the German expert Oscar Ottowhich he batted 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2) and 7-5.

His prize will be a second round match against the American Frances Tiafoe16th seed, who left another German on the street, Daniel Altmayerin four close series.

The victory over Otte allowed Shang, with a huge future, to leave behind a controversy that began months earlier when he had decided to fire his coach. Chilean Marcelo Rioswith whom he worked for three intense months in which he jumped from 362nd place in the world rankings to 195th with a title and a final on the always demanding Challengers circuit.

The former number one in the world was surprised by the young Asian’s decision, who suddenly decided to fire him when it seemed that together they were destined for a great future.

“They didn’t give me any reason why we broke up. They didn’t tell me ‘you don’t like the way you dress’. Not a piece of shit. I heard about it from my agent, who tells me, “Bad news, you’re not going to continue with Jerry.” I said, ‘Oh, perfect.’ And I was right on the plane from Atlanta to Sarasota. I went downstairs and ran into Jerry and his parents by surprise and asked them ‘So are we done?’ They didn’t expect me to know, they thought they were going to tell me through the agent. And the father says to me: ‘Yes’. I said ‘Well, that’s fine, but I’d like to know why we broke up’. Then the father starts talking and I don’t understand him. Then I say, ‘Jerry, can you explain this to me?’ And he says ‘My father says…’complained Chino Ríos in statements to the newspaper Third From Chile.

And, angrily, he told of a certain infidelity. “He Plays very easy, but doesn’t put his dick out (makes no effort). For me a professional trains two and a half hours in the morning and two and a half hours in the afternoon, more physical. He, two hours, wakes up at noon… They have another culture. Any pain we stop. The hueón (type) advances five steps and goes back 10 ”, he revealed in the same interview.

After passing qualifying in Melbourne, young Shang had time to clarify the situation. “For me and my family, the most important thing is to be a good person, to respect others. It’s the most important thing that I want to show on and off the pitch, and with Marcelo I don’t think he was expressing that 100 percent. It’s a shame that didn’t work”he explained to the magazine clay.

She continued: “I mean, he’s been very nice to me and wishes the best for me, but I don’t want to give details of what really happened. In the end, there wasn’t any natural feeling. We started off really well.” winning in Lexington, which was a tremendous confidence boost. Having a former world number one is a very special feeling, it was a very positive experience, unfortunately it didn’t work out in the end.”

Today Shang trains under orders from giving booties, an experienced Argentine coach, who worked with the Japanese Kei Nishikori and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. And, by the way, a little history.

China grows

The progress of men’s tennis in China was evident in this tournament in which three men from that country participate in a Grand Slam for the first time since the Open Era began in 1968.

The other two are Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing, who at the latest US Open became the first Chinese to win a singles Grand Slam in 63 years.

However, in Melbourne, Wu lost in the first round to Frenchman Corentin Moutet in a match over four hours (6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5).

With information from AFP