2026 Australian Open: Shang Juncheng Delivers a Bagel to Defeat Former Top 10 Player Agut, Starts Strong

On January 19th, Beijing time, the second day of the 2026 Australian Open main draw took place. Chinese player Shang Juncheng appeared in the second match on Court 8. After nearly three hours under the blazing sun, Shang defeated the 37-year-old Spanish veteran and former Top 10 player Agut with a score of 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-0, winning their first-ever encounter and boosting his ranking to No. 262 immediately. This marks Shang’s first Grand Slam main draw victory since the 2024 US Open and the seventh Grand Slam main draw win of his career.

Shang quickly found his rhythm at the start, gaining a 2-0 lead early on. He then maintained steady play to close out the set 6-4. Agut raised his level in the second set, with both players closely matched. In the 11th game, a crucial service game for Shang, he saved two break points to hold serve and push the set into a tiebreak, but ultimately lost it 2-7.

In the third set, Shang served first, and the players remained evenly matched for most of the set. Seizing an opportunity in Agut’s must-hold tenth game, Shang broke serve to take the set 6-4. Entering the fourth set with momentum and confidence, Shang dominated by winning six consecutive games to clinch the set and secure his fourth main draw victory at the Australian Open.

Shang has participated in the Australian Open three times before, with his best result reaching the Round of 32 in 2024, where he was defeated by current world No. 1 Alcaraz in the third round. In a pre-match interview, Shang expressed satisfaction with his performance at the ATP Hong Kong tournament earlier this year, hoping to carry that form into the Australian Open. In Hong Kong, he defeated Komesana and Sonego before falling to newly minted Top 10 player Bublyk in the quarterfinals. Shang’s opponent in the second round of this Australian Open will be decided between Brandon Nakashima and Van der Schueren.

(Text and editing by: Wang Fei)