PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah Update: Shang closes in on Jeddah after Chengdu title

#NextGenATP Chinese star Shang Juncheng made history on Tuesday at the Chengdu Open, where he became the first player born in 2005 to win an ATP Tour title.

The 19-year-old’s success on home soil has further cemented his Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF qualification hopes, with the Chinese lefty poised to compete at the 20-and-under event in Jeddah in December.

Shang is up to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, 759 points ahead of ninth-placed Vilius Gaubas, who is just outside the qualification spots.

PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

The World No. 55 Shang impressed on home soil at the ATP 250 event, moving past Kei Nishikori, Roman Safiullin, Alexander Bublik, Yannick Hanfmann and Lorenzo Musetti to become just the second Chinese man to win a tour-level title after Wu Yibing won in Dallas in 2023.

“It's always special to play at home, not mentioning to win a title,” Shang told ATPTour.com after triumphing. “I've never thought that I would do it this early in my career, but I'm grateful for this one. Just a super special week. I was going match by match, not knowing what will happen in the next one.”

Earlier this month, American Learner Tien boosted his qualification chances by winning his second ATP Challenger Tour crown of the season in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and aiming to make his debut at the event.

Eighth-placed Coleman Wong became the first player from Hong Kong since 1972 to win an ATP Tour main draw match when he advanced to the second round in Chengdu. After advancing through qualifying, the 20-year-old eventually lost to Brandon Nakashima.

Shang and fourth-placed Jakub Mensik are in action at the ATP 500 event in Beijing this week, while Race leader Arthur Fils and third-placed Alex Michelsen take to court at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]