#NextGenATP Shang sets Atlanta rematch with Shelton

One year after beating home favourite Ben Shelton in the first round of the Atlanta Open, 19-year-old Shang Juncheng has earned himself a rematch with this year's top seed.

The Chinese #NextGenATP star followed up two qualifying wins with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against American wild card Andres Martin on Wednesday in his first tour-level match since Wimbledon. In both of his Atlanta appearances, Shang has reached the second round after a successful qualifying campaign.

At No. 156 in the PIF ATP Rankings last year, he beat Shelton before bowing out against Kei Nishikori. This week, Shang is up to No. 86 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a career high. He is also in fourth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

Reilly Opelka also earned an opening win on Wednesday, beating Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 7-6(5) in an all-American matchup. Like Shang, Opelka did not drop serve in the match; both he and Shang saved two beak points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"I was impressed with my level. I kind of surprised myself," Opelka said in his on-court interview.

The former World No. 17 is competing in his second ATP Tour event after a nearly two-year injury hiatus due to hip and wrist problems. But after reaching the Newport semi-finals in his first event back, Opelka continues to impress in Atlanta. He will next face fifth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a place in the quarter-finals.

"It's as major of a difference as it gets," he said, comparing the Newport grass to Atlanta's hard courts. "It's nicer coming from that to this, as opposed to the other way around. Every ball bounces true here. Especially when it's hot, it's a live court.

"There's a reason why the other guy that kind of looks like me and plays like me [John Isner] has won it six times," he joked. "It's a bouncy court, servers like playing here."

Serve-bot is back at it 🤖💥⚡️⚙️

Opelka wins against Kovacevic 6-3 7-6(5) @ATLOpenTennis | #AtlantaOpen pic.twitter.com/XD7pKuYDlZ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 24, 2024

Also in first-round action, eighth seed Max Purcell outlasted fellow Aussie Christopher O'Connell 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Two men are already through to the quarter-finals: Mattia Bellucci and Arthur Rinderknech, who will meet in the last eight. Italy's Bellucci hit 17 aces in a 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-3 uspset of second seed Adrian Mannarino, while Rinderknech did not face a break point in a 7-6(4), 6-3 win against Adam Walton.

For the second straight night in Atlanta, rain cancelled the evening session. Third seed Frances Tiafoe was set to take on Aslan Karatsev, followed by Mackenzie McDonald vs. Yoshihito Nishioka.