Luca Van Assche overcame Shang Juncheng 4-3 (7-3) 2-4 4-1 4-3 (7-5) after 1 hour and 56 minutes in the first match of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah to move to 1-0 in Red Group.
Van Assche converted 2 of his 13 break points.
Both players went on serve in the first set en route to the tie-break. They traded mini-breaks at the start of the tie-break. Van Assche won five of the next six points with two mini-breaks to clinch the tie-break 7-3. Shang converted his second break point in the third game to win the second set 4-2.
Shang Juncheng saved three break points in the second game of the third set. Van Assche earned his break in the fourth game and converted his second set point to win the third set 4-1.
Shang Juncheng earned an early break in the second game of the fourth set. Van Assche broke straight back in the third game and held serve at 30 to draw level to 2-2. Shang saved three break points in the fifth game to hold serve for 3-2. Van Assche earned an early mini-break to take a 3-1 lead in the tie-break. Shang Juncheng reeled off three consecutive points with two mini-breaks to take a 4-3 lead. Van Assche won four of the next five points to seal the tie-break 7-5.
“I think the experience of last year helped me a lot today, because I already played with these rules. For Shang Juncheng, it was the first time, so it’s difficult to play with these rules. For Jerry, it was his first time, so it’s difficult to be prepared to play sets of four games and all these rules. I remember my first match last year against Abdullah Shelbayh it was difficult to adapt, and it was easier for me because I already played for matches last year”, said Van Assche.
