Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti will face China’s Juncheng Shang in the finals of the Chengdu Open. Musetti has been in good form this season; however, in this tournament, two of his previous three matches went to three sets. On the other hand, J.C. Shang has dropped just one set so far in this tournament. The 19-year-old Chinese player has been making full use of the home conditions. Can this strong home support help Shang win the first title of his career?

Lorenzo Musetti vs J.C. Shang: Preview

If we take a look at Musetti’s performance in the 2024 season, the Italian played some incredible tennis in June and July. He first reached the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open and then made it to the finals at the Queen’s Club Championships before making yet another SF run at the Wimbledon Championships. Lorenzo Musetti was also one step away from lifting the title at the Croatia Open, but Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo defeated him in that match. Despite a shaky start in Chengdu, he made a strong comeback in the semifinals, defeating Russia’s Alibek Kachmazov 6-4, 6-2.

On the other hand, J.C. Shang has been busy showing the tennis world why he’s a rising star in Chinese tennis. Shang started his season with a semifinal appearance at the Hong Kong Open. Later on, he reached the quarterfinals of the Eastbourne International and the semifinals of the Atlanta Open. He has shown a lot of promise this year, and Shang is surely a player to watch out for in the near future! He defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in the semifinals of the Chengdu Open 6-4, 6-4. Can he repeat a similar performance against someone like Musetti?

Musetti vs Shang: Head-to-Head

Right-handed Lorenzo Musetti will take on the young left-handed Chinese player, J.C. Shang. Interestingly, this will be their first meeting. So, a lot of questions are coming up in people’s minds at the moment. Have they done enough homework to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses? Can Musetti handle the pressure from the Chinese crowd and deliver a dominant performance in the final?

Prediction: Musetti to win in three sets

Beating an in-form Chinese player on Chinese soil is going to be a tough challenge for Lorenzo Musetti. However, considering the number of big matches he has played this season, he likely knows a thing or two about handling external pressures and bringing his A-game to the court. So, experience plays a key role in predicting the result of this match. Apart from that, Musetti is currently ranked 19th in the world and has a win-loss record of 32-22.

On the other hand, J.C. Shang is ranked 55th in the men’s singles rankings and has a win-loss record of 23-15. Considering these factors, the Italian looks slightly ahead in this intriguing faceoff. However, we’re expecting Shang to give a tough fight against Lorenzo Musetti. So, this match has all the ingredients to go a little deeper!

If we look at their playing styles, Lorenzo Musetti has an attacking style of play and loves snatching points at the net. He is also comfortable playing from the baseline and has a long backswing on both forehand and backhand. Musetti brings a lot of variety to his game. However, his biggest weapon is his one-handed backhand shot! The 22-year-old Italian will be keen to dictate the match from the start, but will the Chinese give him a free run?

Well, talking about Shang Juncheng’s playing style, his calm and composed nature on the court is his biggest strength. He has a good return game, and his left-handed forehands can cause some trouble for Musetti in this match. Shang is a very clever player and also a good striker of the ball. He can swiftly change from defense to offense at any point in the match, and this is what makes him a formidable challenger! However, if you ask: Can he win the match against Lorenzo Musetti? The answer is no at the moment!