Shang Juncheng: Outstanding Australian Open Results Closely Linked to Fan Support

On January 19, Chinese player Shang Juncheng defeated former top 10 and Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets during the first round of the 2026 Australian Open, securing his first Grand Slam main draw win since the 2024 US Open. After the match, he reviewed the game with reporters, looked ahead to his next opponent, and shared his fondness for the Australian Open.

Shang Juncheng in an Interview

Reflecting on the match, Shang described it as a game full of twists and turns: “Overall, my performance in the first and second sets was quite steady. My opponent is a very experienced player who has probably spent more time on the tour than I have playing tennis. I wanted to keep the pace of the match very fast, considering he is around 36 or 37 years old. I felt that playing fast might give me more advantage.”

“I started well, but in the second set (which I lost), there were some objective factors. At that moment, for a left-handed player, it was hard to see the ball on serve because the sun was quite annoying. I had several double faults in a row and lost some points I shouldn’t have. I probably lost focus a bit. However, I played very well in the third set. Once the sun moved to the other side and no longer affected me, my serving gradually improved, and my baseline game came back too.”

Shang’s second-round opponent will be decided between Brandon Nakashima and Arthur Van Dijk Schulp, both of whom he has faced before in China. He commented on these two opponents: “They are completely different players. I played Nakashima in Chengdu; he is a very well-rounded player with excellent movement, serving, and return skills, making him very tough to beat. Van Dijk Schulp is also a very experienced tour player; we played a three-and-a-half-hour match in Hong Kong before. Both have strong power, and on the Australian Open courts, you need to use their power to your advantage to win points. I think I just need to focus on playing my own tennis without worrying too much about their game.”

Many fans noticed changes in Shang’s physique, and he explained it was due to increased carbohydrate intake: “I adjusted my diet to eat more carbs because best-of-five matches are really long. Without steady glycogen replenishment, it’s easy to lose energy in any set. I also take protein powder, which has contributed to my weight gain. I believe if my body feels good, there’s no need to restrict myself to a certain weight.”

This year marks Shang Juncheng’s fourth Australian Open appearance. He first qualified for the main draw and reached the second round in 2023, and in 2024 he advanced to the round of 32. He said this is his best Grand Slam performance, attributing his success not only to weather and court conditions but also to the strong support from fans.

“It’s related to the weather and court speed, but of course, also the fans. All the Chinese supporters are cheering for me. Some friends training or playing on nearby courts told me that my court is really loud. I think that’s very positive. A Grand Slam is such a long event, and having constant energy and cheers from the crowd really helps. So I really enjoy playing here, win or lose, because everyone gives me enough energy to fight for every point.”

(Edited by: Wang Fei)