Carlos Alcaraz vs Juncheng Shang: 2024 Australian Open - Preview & Prediction

18/01/2024 23:00 | by Zachary Wimer

Carlos Alcaraz has been playing pretty decent tennis at the 2024 Australian Open, but he'll be tested in the third round against Jungcheng Shang.

Alcaraz hasn't looked spectacular in Australia, but he looked pretty well. Both the first match against Richard Gasquet and the second match against Lorenzo Sonego were solid efforts from the young Spaniard.

He didn't wow with his tennis, but he got the job done and didn't spend too much time on the courts. When it comes to Shang, he has certainly impressed so far, but that's because his threshold for impressing was lower.

Wins over Mackenzie McDonald and Sumit Nagal were pretty solid for him because both were tricky opponents who could beat him if he gave them a chance.

When it comes to their history at the Australian Open, this is the first time Shang is in the main draw. Making the third round is a solid achievement for the Chinese player.

On the other hand, Alcaraz made the third round before but never advanced past that round, so he should be motivated to go further here.

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Head-to-head:

When it comes to the head-to-head matches, they never played against each other, which is not a surprise. Shang hasn't played many ATP events, as he's just breaking out. Even so, we can compare the playstyle, which is sort of aggressive with both.

Alcaraz obviously can generate a lot more power, but Shang has a pretty decent playstyle, which can give his opponents some trouble. He won't be scared to play this match, and that's his best asset.

Carlos Alcaraz		Jungcheng Shang
0	H2H	0
2	Rank	140
20	Age	18
2-0	2024 W/L	5-1
157-43	Career W/L	12-13

Prediction:

With all of that, expecting Shang to actually win this match would be a bit too much. The Spaniard will have the upper hand when it comes to the physical side, and that could be decisive here. Expect some minor complications, but overall, Alcaraz still should win the match.

Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz to win in four sets.

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