Shang Juncheng reaches R2 in Winston-Salem | ATP Tour

Matching Report

#NextGenATP Shang storms to R2 in Winston-Salem

Stricker achieves 2024 first-ranking win at ATP 250

August 19, 2024

Shang Juncheng didn’t take long to start his campaign at the Winston-Salem Open.

The #NextGenATP Chinese star marked his ATP 250 debut with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Francisco Comesana on Monday afternoon. Shang won 10 of the last 11 games to cruise to victory in 69 minutes and set up a second-round match with seventh seed Mariano Navone.

After winning 80 percent (24/30) points after his debut against Comesana, according to Infosys ATP Stats, Shang improved to 20-23 this season. The 19-year-old lefty enjoyed a breakout year on the ATP Tour in 2024, where he reached the semifinals in Hong Kong and Atlanta and climbed to No. 73 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

With his victory over Comesana on Monday, Shang boosted his hopes of reaching the season-ending Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the first time. He is currently third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, with only Arthur Fils and Alex Michelsen ahead of him.

Meanwhile, a competitor in the past two editions of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Dominic Stricker, celebrated his success on Monday in Winston-Salem. The 22-year-old defeated Federico Coria 7-5, 6-2 to win his first tournament of the season.

Strikers strikes 🎯@DominicStricker opens the day with a 7-5 6-2 win over Coria!@WSOVula pic.twitter.com/TcaGjqI0FV

– ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024

The Swiss left-hander reached a high of No. 88 in the PIF ATP Rankings last October, but did not compete for the first five months of this year due to a back injury. After defeating Coria for his first Top 100 win since upsetting Casper Ruud in Basel last October, Stricker will prepare for a second round clash against 10th seed Lorenzo Sonego.

Alexandre Muller was also the first winner on Monday in North Carolina. The Frenchman beat compatriot Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2 to advance to face 15th seed Pavel Kotov.