China's last hope, Shang Juncheng, exhausted in physical stamina, stopped at the round of 32 in the Shanghai Masters; Shang Juncheng: Ultimately ran out of strength

Shang Juncheng’s hard-fought three-set defeat to Portugal’s Borges also confirmed the complete exit of Chinese players from the singles competition at the Shanghai Masters.

After the surprising two-set victory over world top-10 Khachanov in round two, Shang Juncheng’s performance ignited a roar of excitement, positioning the young 20-year-old Chinese player as a promising talent. Many believed he had a solid chance to advance further against Borges in the third round and secure a spot in the round of 16 at the Shanghai Masters.

“He is very strong from the baseline and well-rounded, probably very suited to slower courts, so I need to be more patient and play more decisively. I will try my best to prepare and respond at 100%,” Shang said before the match, acknowledging his familiarity with Borges, whom he often chats with in the locker room. He also emphasized that facing such a strong opponent requires giving his all and maintaining good form to have a chance at victory.

Judging by the 2 hours and 40 minutes match duration, Shang clearly prepared thoroughly; and Borges proved, as the Chinese youngster anticipated, not to be an easy opponent as some might have imagined.

Unfortunately, despite Shang’s full effort, he ultimately lost the match 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, leaving many feeling regretful for the young player.

After the match, many believed that Shang’s loss to Borges in a tough three-set battle was not due to inferior skill but rather unavoidable circumstances.

From the start of the first set, Shang raised his level to the best, and Borges was no pushover either, quickly finding his rhythm. The two engaged in a fierce contest that pushed the first set to a tightly fought tiebreak.

The tiebreak was a pity for Shang. If he had not lost three consecutive points while leading 5-4, he might have won that set. After taking the second set 6-4, the match could have ended in Shang’s favor in straight sets, avoiding the deciding set altogether.

In the first seven games of the final set, Shang performed normally, but his expression showed that the grueling previous two sets had severely impacted his physical condition.

When Borges secured a crucial break in the eighth game, Shang’s energy visibly waned. He was seen bending over to breathe heavily multiple times, his movements slowed, and unforced errors increased. If it wasn’t a stamina issue, it would be hard to explain these signs otherwise.

The inability to sustain high-intensity play at critical moments naturally shifted the match’s momentum toward Borges. This explains why the Portuguese player closed out the match 6-3 in the final set, a result unsurprising to fans watching live.

“I fought hard today, but in the end, I ran out of strength. This loss will help me understand my weaknesses better,” Shang said in a post-match interview, confirming fans’ speculation that stamina was the key factor behind his defeat. Had it not been for his physical limits, given his strong form in the first two sets, the final result might have been very different.

Knowing where his problems lie and the reasons for the loss, Shang’s coaching team revealed after the match that they will focus on improving his fitness to ensure his stamina does not fail him at crucial moments in the future.

With Shang’s exit, no Chinese players remain in the singles draw of the Shanghai Masters. Although this outcome brings a bittersweet feeling, the young Chinese player truly gave his all, and his loss was not due to lack of skill but understandable reasons.

Moreover, many comforted Shang by saying that once his stamina issue is resolved, he has no shortage of talent, effort, and potential, making his future very promising. At only 20 years old, he still has vast room to grow and improve. Don’t be discouraged: “Lost the match, but won the future!”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Starry Moon River)