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Lars Hamer

China’s Jerry Shang Juncheng’s hopes of winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open ended prematurely when he retired because of illness during his semi-final against Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Shang lasted just 20 minutes in Saturday’s match at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium before making the decision to withdraw.
As Shang and Nishikori were preparing to swap ends, world No 50 Shang put an arm around his Japanese counterpart, and the pair exchanged words before the umpire announced the 19-year-old’s withdrawal with Nishikori leading 4-3 in the first set.
The announcement stunned those in attendance at Centre Court. Many had crammed into the venue only minutes earlier to watch Shang, who has become a fan favourite at the tournament during his runs to the semi-finals this and last year.

He had been playing well before the announcement, as Nishikori acknowledged at courtside afterwards.
Shang’s parents were both in tears following the short-lived match, knowing their son would have had a strong chance of lifting the trophy.
“I really had a bad fever last night,” Shang told spectators before leaving the arena. “So today it’s been a really tough day – me standing here is a miracle. I didn’t want to let you guys down, but I’m sorry.
“But I’ll be back next year and hope to see some familiar faces again.”
Shang still put himself up for media duties, revealing that he was fatigued and his racquet “felt very heavy”. “I wanted to try, I wanted to know how long I could manage to play for,” he said.
“[In] the past month, I had pink eye and then flu in Jeddah [at the ATP Next Gen Finals], sick in Macau, and now fever here in Hong Kong. So I don’t think it’s the best end to 2024 and start to 2025 for me.”
He had referred on Friday to having been unwell the previous night, almost causing him to pull out of his quarter-final that day. He said after that match: “I was thinking that some fans came for me, so I have to get on and at least give it a try.”
His withdrawal on Saturday sent 35-year-old Nishikori through to Sunday’s final to face Alexandre Muller of France. The Japanese was among those who could not quite believe what had happened.

“I didn’t expect to get into a final at the beginning of the year,” Nishikori said. “It’s a shame that he isn’t feeling well, but he still plays pretty good. I don’t know what to say.”
It is his second event final in a row as he tries to put injuries behind him and climb back up the rankings, in which he once sat at No 4. He won the Tali Open, an ATP Challenger tournament, in Finland in November.
Earlier, Muller again fought back to win, downing Spain’s Jaume Munar 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the other semi-final. It was the fourth time in as many matches that the Frenchman has recovered from a set down.
The world No 67 came to life after he broke in the second set for 3-3, cancelling out 62nd-ranked Munar’s early break. It went with serve until the tiebreak, but Muller was by then playing his best tennis and stormed to a 5-0 lead before seeing it out 7-5. The 27-year-old broke again in the first game of the third set.
“It was a tough match. Again,” Muller said. “Like all the matches this week, losing the first set and getting the win.”

He has not appeared in a final on the tour since he lost to Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena at the Grand Prix Hassan II, an ATP 250 tournament in Marrakech, in 2023.
“I’m just trying my best every day,” he said. “I’m not the type of guy who can make four aces in a row. I need to fight on every point. So if I stopped fighting, I’d be a good player, but not a very good player. This week, I’m a very good player.”


Hong Kong tennis chiefs look at options for Victoria Park after Kai Tak ruled out as venue

Rublev will give Djokovic positive Hong Kong Open message, but Russian unsure over return

Hong Kong Tennis Open winner tells city’s No 1 Coleman Wong where to focus for success

Comeback king Alexandre Muller beats Kei Nishikori to win Hong Kong Tennis Open

Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open

China’s Shang Juncheng retires ill during Hong Kong Tennis Open semi-final, crowd stunned

Jerry Shang before his retirement from his semi-final against Kei Nishikori of Japan. Photo: Dickson Lee

Jerry Shang waves to the crowd as he departs after retiring in his semi-final at Victoria Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

Kei Nishikori plays a shot against Jerry Shang before their semi-final was halted. Photo: Dickson Lee

Alexandre Muller in action against Jaume Munar in the first semi-final. Photo: Dickson Lee

Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open: Nishikori sets up Shang semi-final after seeds exit

Japan’s Kei Nishikori in action in his quarter-final against Cameron Norrie at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Jerry Shang serves during his quarter-final on Friday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Lorenzo Musetti returns a shot on his way to beating Gabriel Diallo on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open: Shang ‘mentally stronger’ this year – but Rublev out

Shang Juncheng celebrates a point against Pedro Martinez at Victoria Park Tennis Centre on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

Shang Juncheng hits an overhead shot during his win over Spain’s Pedro Martinez. Photo: Elson Li

Lorenzo Musetti plays a shot at the net during his win over Gabriel Diallo. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong Tennis Open: home hope Coleman Wong says event helped him in top-100 push

Coleman Wong in men’s doubles action at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Wong has set his sights on the top 100 and qualifying for a grand slam event. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Jerry Shang Juncheng is in the world’s top 50 at the age of 19. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sport

Tennis

Shang ‘didn’t want to let you guys down, but I’m sorry’ as withdrawal sends his opponent Kei Nishikori of Japan through to final


Shang ‘didn’t want to let you guys down, but I’m sorry’ as withdrawal sends his opponent Kei Nishikori of Japan through to final.


ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA)

Hong Kong