Shang Juncheng causes a major upset at the Hong Kong 250 tournament, soaring 95 places in the rankings, while Zheng Qinwen officially announces withdrawal from the 2026 Australian Open.

Both Shang Juncheng and Zheng Qinwen climbed the trending charts in a surprising way!

At the Hong Kong 250 tournament, after Shang Juncheng, ranked 406th, stunned the 66th-ranked Comerzan, he challenged Italy’s world No. 39 Sonego in round two. The bookmakers instantly escalated the hype around this matchup with a single tactic.

Shang’s odds stood at 1 to 1.61, while Sonego’s were 1 to 2.3! Many initially thought their eyes were deceiving them or that the bookmakers were drunk, as it was hard to believe they backed Shang so strongly. After all, Sonego is no ordinary player, regularly competing on the tour and Grand Slams, with a career-high singles ranking of 21.

Because bookmakers usually favor higher-ranked players, this unusual odds setup made fans eager to see what would happen after the match between Shang and Sonego, wondering if Shang would truly live up to the confidence shown in the odds.

After the intense 1 hour and 22-minute battle ended with Shang sweeping Sonego 6-3, 6-4, the public was amazed. At the same time, many praised the bookmakers for their sharp insight, saying they really know how to spot talent, proving their expertise in the betting world.

Looking back at the match, everyone watched with the mindset that Shang might be overwhelmed by the pressure of being favored by the odds.

After the first seven games of the opening set, seeing Sonego handle Shang’s aggressive play smoothly, fans worried that Shang might buckle under pressure. However, an error by the Italian in the eighth game instantly shifted the momentum.

Sonego double-faulted and sent multiple shots out during his service game, and Shang seized the opportunity to break serve. He then confidently held his own serve to take the first set 6-3.

After testing each other in the first set, Shang clearly gained more confidence in defeating Sonego.

Shang knew a faster pace suited him better and could suppress the Italian, so he increased the tempo from the second set’s start, quickly taking a 2-0 lead.

This tactical shift disrupted Sonego’s rhythm, forcing him to play more aggressively and take risks to regain control. Unexpectedly, Shang responded with even greater determination, unleashing an ace at 212 km/h, his fastest serve ever, prompting fans to joke that he has successfully transformed into a power player.

With a strong serve and consistent firepower, Shang eventually sealed the match 6-4, denying Sonego any chance of a comeback and earning respect for the bookmakers who backed him.

After the match, many praised Shang not only for his back-to-back upsets over higher-ranked Comerzan and Sonego at rank 406 but also for the progress he made following last winter’s training. His strength, once a weakness, has clearly improved, and his tactical flexibility has grown, showing a smarter approach to the game.

Thanks to his win over Sonego, Shang’s ranking skyrocketed by 95 spots, moving up to 311th, and he earned a prize of $21,155.

Shang Juncheng hit the trending list for his low-ranked victory in Hong Kong, while Zheng Qinwen trended due to her sudden announcement of withdrawal from the 2026 Australian Open.

Zheng cited two main reasons for her withdrawal: first, her injury has not fully healed; second, she has not yet reached the form she demands of herself—100% fighting condition, a standard she holds very high as China’s top female player.

Although Zheng emphasized that the decision to withdraw was extremely difficult, many had already mentally prepared for her absence.

When Chinese players gradually announced their 2026 season plans, Zheng’s absence was notable, leading many to speculate that she was unlikely to participate in the 2026 Australian Open.

Even though Zheng confirmed participation in pre-Australian Open exhibitions to warm up, speculation persisted because she used the same approach last year but exited in the second round.

With her injury uncertain and possibly aware that her current form would not yield good results, many viewed her withdrawal as a wise choice. Rather than risk a poor performance that could hurt her confidence, it’s better to rest and recover. Since she has already missed many events, skipping this Australian Open is acceptable, especially with the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open still ahead.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River’s Starry Sky)