CHINA OPEN

September 27, 2023

Shang Jerry

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Jerry, welcome back to your hometown to have your first match here in Beijing, ATP Tour level match. How is your preparation so far?

SHANG JERRY: Well, super happy to be back in China, especially in Beijing where I was born, where I call home. I mean, just very excited to be playing on these courts.

Preparation has been really positive with the team. Body's feeling great. Hopefully I can produce some good tennis this week (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. Asian Games are going on. We are following the Chinese players' performance. What about the men's and women's Chinese tennis? Your impressions of the Asian Games?

SHANG JERRY: Sorry, I'm not following those matches. I'm focused on myself, my preparation for the China Open. I'm very sorry, but I'm not really following the Asian Games.

Q. We say hometown to athletes is very important. Mentally it's special. You are coming back home. How do you adjust your mentality preparing for this?

SHANG JERRY: Playing in front of the home crowd, definitely I feel the pressure because you want to play your best possible at home. There's definitely extra pressure. I told myself I don't want to put extra pressure on myself in front of so many people, the big tournament.

I think all of the pressure, extra pressure, is actually given by myself. I need to be flexible, to believe in myself, to believe in my level of play, believe in the strategy of my team.

I want to be more relaxed at this event. It is impossible, but I want to be flexible so I can upgrade my level of play here.

Q. Any special preparation for your first-round match? He's an Asian player. Compared to European, American players, what kind of players do you like to play against?

SHANG JERRY: Let me answer the first question.

I think he played very well in Zhuhai. There were some swings in the first round, but he never gives up. He can actually pull you into his comfort zone.

I think my focus will be to play my strategies, not attacking my opponent. I want to focus on my strengths. I think he's really confident. He made it to the finals, so he must be at a very good level of play and confident coming into the China Open.

I don't want to have extra pressure on myself. I think we will have really tough opponents in the China Open. I'm trying to minimize the pressure on myself. Just want to give my 100% in every match.

Q. Playing in front of the home crowd, the biggest difference is you have many relatives, friends. A lot of people want to meet you. How do you balance your time on court and off court? China is a country of relationships. It's hard to say no, right?

SHANG JERRY: Well, it's been a long time since I came home. The last time was before COVID. It was in 2019. I think tennis is very important in my life. Of course, family is important. I don't have that much time for my friends and other relatives. I don't have enough time for everyone.

After the tournament, I will definitely find time to spend some time with my family and friends.

Q. In the Grand Slams this year, how was your experience? What impressions did you have? What did you learn from the Grand Slams and how could that improve your performance here?

SHANG JERRY: Very impressive with all the Grand Slams this year. The best one was the Australian Open. Out of the four Grand Slams, I had the best performance, best results, and best mentality, I think.

I have learned a lot in each event at each Grand Slam. I'm learning from each opponent. I'm getting a lot of experience from each match.

Getting to the second round in the Australian Open was a big breakthrough for me.

Q. A question about your coach. Back in Zhuhai you mentioned you would meet up a new coach in Beijing. Can you talk about your new coach.

SHANG JERRY: Not the first time working with this coach. Last year many matches, most of the year, I worked with my IMG coach. We've had a really close relationship. Most of last year I was coached by him. This is only the second day working together in the China Open. I think he has helped me a lot.

Q. Playing against the Japanese player in the first round, he is shorter than you, which is a special case. A lot of people are saying that if you can be five centimeters taller, that would be good. What are your comments on that?

SHANG JERRY: Like you said, this is a fact. I have to deal with it. Nothing I can do about it. In tennis, you can say a lot of ifs, you can make a lot of assumptions, but you can only focus on yourself and make the ifs possible.