Shang Juncheng: Today was indeed not my best performance, but my confidence is gradually building.

On January 22nd, Beijing time, Shang Juncheng lost 0-3 to Dutch player Van der Schulp in the men’s singles second round. After the match, he confessed that there were many areas he did not perform well in, but he is gradually finding his rhythm in the new season and trusts that breakthroughs will come later.

During the first set, the score was closely contested, but after losing the tiebreak, Shang admitted his emotions were somewhat unsettled. His opponent’s speed and power remained consistently high. “I don’t think this loss was undeserved. Of course, there are things to learn and improve. If I had handled the crucial points better, the outcome might have been different. But that’s tennis — winning those key points can decide the match.”

“Actually, I played the tiebreak too cautiously and lost points. Maybe because the wind was strong on the court today, I tried to play it safe. Tennis often rewards the brave. Overall, I don’t have too many regrets. I wouldn’t say I fully showed my best tennis, but I think my opponent used his skills and shot quality to avoid my strengths.”

Regarding plans after the Australian Open, Shang Juncheng has a clear idea: “Being able to participate in this year’s first Grand Slam makes up for last year’s disappointment. Moving forward, I need to patiently take it one tournament at a time. It’s not just about showing up; I have some small goals. I believe that by doing the right things, I will perform better in the future.”

“I will probably participate in the Davis Cup, but based on rankings, I might not play first. I’ll return to Beijing to rest and get my physical condition back. My current tour goals are Doha and Dubai. Some protected ranking entries won’t be useful; if I play every event, I can use it for Madrid.”

(Written and edited by: Sunny)