Dante Bottini first watched Shang Juncheng play tennis on the age of 15. Bottini was teaching Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who practised with the teenager. His first impression of ‘Jerry’ was easy.
“Amazing,” Bottini advised ATPTour.com. “Very good. Amazing participant. I imply clearly he was very younger, however I already may inform that he had nice potential.”
It has not taken lengthy for Shang to show the Argentine’s instincts proper. Aged 17, the Chinese star on Monday turned the primary man in historical past from his nation to win a match on the Australian Open. That got here after the teenager efficiently certified for a Grand Slam on his first try.
“I’m somewhat stunned that I got here this quick, however on the similar time, I feel it is all of the arduous work from my workforce and myself that paid off,” Shang mentioned. “I feel I’m simply nothing else however enthusiastic about what’s coming subsequent.”
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The World No. 194 has been a sizzling prospect for years. The son of two skilled athletes — father Shang Yi performed soccer and mom Wu Na was a world-championship successful desk tennis participant — skilled on the Chinese department of Emilio Sanchez’s academy earlier than transitioning to the Florida website aged 12. Shang then moved as he neared age 15 to the IMG Academy, the place he developed into the world’s No. 1 junior as a 16-year-old.
Through IMG, Shang has been capable of practice with a few of the greatest gamers on this planet, together with Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian was shortly impressed.
“The first impression — and I hit with him some time in the past the primary time — was that I cherished his perspective. I feel lots of juniors after they’re good, they get this little cocky perspective,” Shapovalov mentioned. “But he was utterly completely different. He was all the time very, very smiley, very glad to be on the courtroom and clearly an unbelievable expertise, however I feel he works rather well.”
Although Shang was clearly proficient with the racquet, how he performed the sport from a younger age caught Bottini’s consideration.
“He was all the time very sensible when he would play,” Bottini mentioned. “Obviously when he was 15, he didn’t have sufficient energy but. But he could be very sensible and take some choices in the course of the factors that you’d say, ‘Wow’.”
Shang climbed practically 500 spots within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2022, from World No. 666 to as excessive as World No. 184. With his first-round victory in the principle draw towards Oscar Otte, the 17-year-old ascended to No. 150 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.
But Shang nor his workforce will get forward of themselves. They are taking every day as a possibility to be taught and enhance. Bottini has loads of expertise in that division.
Shang Juncheng earns his maiden Grand Slam victory on Monday in Melbourne. Credit: Paul Crock/Getty Images
The Argentine was the longtime coach of Kei Nishikori, who like Shang was a rising star with a vibrant highlight on him. The pair labored collectively for practically a decade, and Bottini helped Nishikori to as excessive as World No. 4.
“What I keep in mind we did good that helped us is to not rush issues. Don’t rush issues and preserve engaged on creating his recreation,” Bottini mentioned. “Obviously Jerry is 17, he has an ideal recreation, however he’s nonetheless rising up as a human being, as an individual. He’s nonetheless rising up. We must be very cautious and information him on the appropriate path.”
Bottini started working with Shang this offseason. The Chinese participant has shortly grown to take pleasure in working with the veteran coach, who additionally mentored former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov.
“Dante, I’m very fortunate to have him on my aspect. I imply, his opinions imply lots to me. We typically speak about play the sport,” Shang mentioned. “In the workforce, all of us agreed that all the pieces is psychological, that everyone can play good tennis, and simply having the optimistic mindset within the huge moments can change the entire recreation.”
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Bottini defined that it’s not nearly having the appropriate mindset now, however instilling it early on in Shang’s profession to assist sooner or later.
“I’m all the time very optimistic and likewise attempt to be aggressive with an aggressive mentality on the courtroom. Obviously it’s been [that way] since we began working collectively. All the drills that we do too is to maintain coming somewhat extra ahead,” Bottini mentioned. “I’m not saying to the web, however be somewhat extra aggressive. He’s been doing nice in observe and clearly within the matches too. Also on the courtroom he’s been very optimistic and with an aggressive mentality. That’s why he’s been enjoying some nice tennis I feel and shutting the matches the best way he’s been closing.”
With 4 victories within the bag — three in qualifying and one other in the principle draw — Shang is excessive on confidence. He will be capable to swing freely on Wednesday towards 2022 US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe.
“I feel general this complete week was completely different for me. Playing my first Slam, each day I used to be fairly nervous getting on the courtroom,” Shang mentioned. “But on the similar time, it is top-of-the-line moments I’ve had to date in my profession, so like I mentioned, I’m simply very excited to be on courtroom, and all the pieces is a studying course of for me. I’m simply tremendous glad to be right here.”