Andrey Rublev - Juncheng Shang predictions and free betting tips [06/01/2024]

In the second semi-final of the ATP 250 tournament in Hong Kong, there is perhaps a clear favourite and an unpredictable underdog. Andrey Rublev is racing towards a new title, disregarding the game difficulties that the Russian tennis player has faced in previous matches of the Asian competitions. He will be up against Chinese player Juncheng Shang, who has managed to win again as a player in the 2nd hundred in the ATP world rankings.

Andrey Rublev

No one is disregarding that Rublev is the favourite in the semi-final with Zhang and many consider him to be the main contender for the trophy in Hong Kong, yet the Russian is not showing super confident tennis.

In the 1st round of the new year's competition, Andrey met with Brit Liam Broady and almost the entire match took place in such a mode that Rublev didn't have the initiative and simply aimed to outplay his opponent in power rallies. Yes, the Russian tennis player continues to hit powerfully with his forehands, plays wide but doesn't cope with the speeds which he himself sets. Rublev probably had an easier time with Arthur Fils as the opponent couldn't always handle Andrey's powerful crosses, yet the Frenchman won his set and then again started to lose in skill to the Russian, failing to achieve greater success after winning the game.

Rublev is still emotional, and that hindered him last season from winning more titles than he was able to. In addition to this, Andrey often loses to many rivals among the top tens of the ATP world ranking and sometimes cannot overcome opponents that are too prepared and confident, for instance, last year he lost the final in Banya-Luka to Serbian Dusan Lajovic, and lost to Alexander Bublik in Halle.

In the match with Zhizhen Zhang it will be not easy to play in such a style when you are trying to act in a forward style, attacking with every ball, surely there will again be mistakes from Rublev and this may mean swings in the match when the Russian leads in the score but could easily give away the set.

Juncheng Shang

For the Chinese player, reaching the semi-final of the ATP 250 tournament is already a super result, with which you can move forward up the career ladder. Of course, successes in Hong Kong do not mean that Juncheng Shang will continue to compete in main tournaments, perhaps he needs to return to the Challengers again and play there well, I believe that a couple of titles at the level of low-grade competitions would definitely be useful to him.

Last season,  Shang tried himself at various levels of tournaments, so the Chinese player couldn't win titles, but got experience performing in the status competitions. Juncheng played everywhere last year, showing good tennis, and now it's time to win trophies, and you can start with Hong Kong (250).

At the current tournament, Zhang has played two intense matches, demonstrating very quality play, admitting mistakes, but also earning winners. Sometimes there were problems with the serve, but the Chinese adjusted it for combinations, which puzzled Frances Tiafoe who did not plan to play secondary roles against the Asian tennis player.

Against Rublev, it is necessary to play in such a mode when power tennis comes to the fore, and you need to implement all your tactical designs in it. Most likely, Juncheng Shang will not be able to impose his game on the Russian and will try to simply return uncomfortable balls back to him, which will be quite acceptable to Rublev.

Prediction for the match: Andrey Rublev - Juncheng Shang

The sooner Rublev takes control, the easier this semi-final match will turn out for him. I will place a bet on the option of total under 10.5 games in the 1st set, where the Russian should catch the Chinese off guard with a good attack, particularly when receiving the opponent's serve, in order to comfortably take the starting game, and, subsequently win the match.