China's Shang upsets Bautista-Agut to power into Australian Open 2nd round

MELBOURNE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Shang Juncheng opened his Australian Open campaign with a four-set win over former top-10 player Roberto Bautista-Agut on Monday.

The 20-year-old hit 63 winners in a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-0 victory in two hours and 52 minutes.

Shang, a former world No. 47, reached the third round at the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 2024, but struggled to regain his best form last year as he battled a foot injury.

Backed by a strong Chinese contingent in the crowd, Shang started aggressively and struck 14 winners to take the opening set.

Bautista-Agut, a former world No. 9, responded to level the match, but Shang maintained the pressure with his groundstrokes and closed out the win with a forehand return winner.

Shang, currently ranked No. 318, will next face 27th seed Brandon Nakashima or Botic van de Zandschulp. ■