ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 2, 2024

Shang Juncheng

Mixed Zone

SHANG JUNCHENG/C. Wong

6-4, 6-4

Q. Congratulations on the win. You must be pleased with that performance.

SHANG JUNCHENG: Yeah, I mean, tough start in the second set, but I'm glad I kept my cool the whole way. Getting frustrated a little bit on the court, not knowing what to do, because conditions, obviously they're very different to the past two weeks, but glad that I kept it together and got the win at the end.

Q. This is your first match win in Shanghai. After you played last year, can you talk about the progress you feel like you've made in that year since?

SHANG JUNCHENG: Yeah, I think, you know, I still remember last year before walking on court against Watanuki, great player, I was super nervous, almost not knowing what to do, like just trying to stay alive on the court. This year I think mentally I'm a different person. Tennis, maybe I haven't changed too much, but walking on the court I knew exactly what to do. I was being so positive, trying to play my game, so I think that's a big change for me.

Q. A big match coming up next against Alcaraz, thoughts on that one?

SHANG JUNCHENG: Yeah, the only time I played him on Rod Laver I didn't finish the match, so on the court I said, you know, if I finish the match it's a huge step forward. Obviously the results don't matter, I'm just trying to play my best tennis. For sure it's going to be fun against Carlos, super nice person, yeah, just a good opportunity to play against one of the best in the world.

Q. You beat Bublik twice in a row, so where does this confidence come from, and what do you think about these matches?

SHANG JUNCHENG: Yeah, Alex, he's an amazing person, we get along so well off the court, I ask him anything, we talk about anything. Yeah, I mean, playing him is never easy, he's got the probably one of the best serves on tour, and he's got the underarm serve as well, so everything, you kind of expect everything from him, but yeah, playing him, especially getting the win in US Open was very important and gave me a lot of confidence, you know, showing that I can compete against the top 32 seeds, having a lot of confidence against them as well and, yeah, just super fun opponent to play against and hopefully I can do the same in the future.