Chinese qualifier Shang to face Thompson in Atlanta ATP semi-finals

Young Chinese tennis qualifier Shang Juncheng overcame two rain interruptions to advance to the semi-finals of the ATP Atlanta Open on Friday by beating Australia’s Max Purcell 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

The 19-year-old left-hander from Beijing overcame rain interruptions late in each set to reach a semi-final match on Saturday against fourth-seeded Australian Jordan Thompson, who eliminated fifth-seeded Spanish Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3.

Shang won the match against the eighth-seeded Australian after two hours and one minute with a service winner at the first hard-court warm-up event in the United States ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 26.

“Tough conditions. It rained twice, especially the first time, in the tie-break, it was crucial,” Shang said.

“I kept my mindset, I played very good tennis. It was a very good match and I’m happy to have qualified.”

Shang, who knocked out American top seed Ben Shelton in the round of 16, reached his second career ATP semi-final, having lost his first to Russian Andrey Rublev in Hong Kong earlier this year.

“Qualifying wasn’t easy and the first two rounds were tough, really tough,” Shang said. “But tomorrow is the semi-finals. It doesn’t happen every week. I’m just happy to be racing this weekend.”

The other semi-final on Saturday will see Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka take on France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

Nishioka eliminated American third seed Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in 84 minutes while Rinderknech overcame Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-1 after two hours and 23 minutes.

Nishioka is aiming for his third career ATP title after the 2018 Shenzhen Open and the 2022 Korea Open in Seoul.

Thompson, a 30-year-old from Sydney, won his first ATP title in February in Los Cabos, beating Norway’s Casper Ruud in the final.

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