Shang & Zhang make Chinese history at Wimbledon

When play began Monday at The Championships, no Chinese man in the Open Era had ever reached the second round. Shang Juncheng and Zhang Zhizhen wasted little time changing that.

Both Chinese stars advanced to the second round at Wimbledon with straight-sets victories on courts located right next to one another. Shang first defeated qualifier Cristian Garin 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 and Zhang then eliminated another qualifier Maxime Janvier 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2.

“It's exciting. I think we're all excited to win at the biggest stage, especially here in Wimbledon,” Shang told ATPTour.com. “[It is the] first time me playing in the main draw, getting a win here. Also Z was just I think minutes behind. It's really good that both of us are in the second round. Hopefully we can do more.”

Zhang began his match on Court 5 after Shang started his encounter on Court 6. Fans were able to watch history made on both courts.

“When I stepped on the court I just saw he was next to me. And also during the match I knew what was going on on the other side," Zhang said. "It's just right there. Actually when we were tossing the coin I was watching the other side. I was watching the score and then when we were playing I still can see some scores. Also when the fans were screaming, I didn't know what was going on in the point, but in the end [I heard] they were screaming.”

Photo Credit: Francois Nel/Getty Images
Shang said: “I think I was I was pretty focused. I know the courts are really tight with each other and there are people moving around obviously in between courts, but the overall atmosphere just gets you super focused, I think overall, and you're just focusing on what's on your court… It’s probably one of the biggest matches you're playing in the year, in the first round in Wimbledon. So I think I was I was quite focused."

When told Zhang had his eye on his court, Shang cracked a smile. “I mean he's tall enough!” the 19-year-old said of his 6'4" countryman. “So I guess he can peek over. For me it's tough because of all the crowd in the middle for sure.”

Both men are happy with their effort Monday, but keen to continue forward at the grass-court major. Shang will next face 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion and 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov. According to the teen, the key will be to not think about tennis between now and then.

“I think that it's hard to do because you're all day in this tennis environment,” Shang said. “But I think we've been playing a little cards, Uno... just to get relaxed and then sometimes maybe even watch a movie and then read some books just to get me off thinking about tennis too much. So I get a good night's sleep and then get ready for the match again.”

Zhang has already thought about his next opponent, Jan-Lennard Struff, who pushed Jannik Sinner to a final-set tie-break in Halle. Zhang is the highest-ranked Chinese player in PIF ATP Rankings history (career-high No. 33) and is the 32nd seed in London.

“I want to keep going but there's Struff following me. It will be a tough match for the next one because he's a really good player and especially on the grass,” Zhang said. “I watched the match against Jannik so next one I will say will be really tough for me, even with the seed. I will think he's seeded.”

For now, the 27-year-old is happy to be through to the second round for the fourth consecutive major.

“Today it was three sets, but it was still quite tough for me in the beginning. Pretty much a lot of big pressure in the first set,” Zhang said. “It’s good. It’s always good to win the first match.”

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