US Open 2024: Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (8) Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang
Date: August 30, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, U.S.
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS | India - Sony Network
Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang preview
Eighth seed Casper Ruud will face Chinese teen Juncheng Shang in a highly anticipated third-round match at the US Open on Friday, August 30.
Ruud kicked off his campaign in New York against another Chinese player, Bu Yunchaokete. While the first set was closely contested, the following two sets were decisively in favor of the Norwegian, who ended up winning 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2.
Ruud then faced French veteran Gael Monfils in the second round. One break separated the pair in the opener, with Ruud taking the first set. He then came out firing in the second set, breaking Monfils' serve in the very first game. Another break in the seventh game, due to an errant forehand from Monfils, allowed him to seal the set in the following game. Monfils responded in the third set with some brilliant tennis, breaking Ruud's serve twice to force a fourth set. He began the fourth set strongly, breaking Ruud’s serve with a blistering backhand pass to take a 3-1 lead. Ruud quickly recovered and leveled the score at 3-3. The match then went into a tiebreaker, where Ruud proved to be the stronger player and ultimately secured a 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3) victory.
Shang, meanwhile, opened his US Open campaign with an epic five-set upset victory over 27th seed Alexander Bublik. He remarkably overturned a two-set deficit to secure an emphatic 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win.
In his second-round clash against Roberto Carballes Baena, Shang started much stronger, comfortably winning the first two sets. He had match points at 5-6 in the third set but ultimately secured the victory in a tiebreaker, with a final score of 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (2).
Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang head-to-head
Casper Ruud and Juncheng Shang's record is currently 0-0 as they have never played each other in a professional match.
Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Casper Ruud vs Juncheng Shang prediction
A tantalizing encounter between Casper Ruud and Juncheng Shang is on the cards for fans in New York. Both players have been in good form lately and are riding an incredible wave of momentum.
Ruud breezed through his opener but faced a tricky test in the second round. Despite a minor hiccup in the third set, he showed remarkable resilience, quickly recovering from the setbacks to secure the win. He served impressively, winning 73% of points behind his first serve. He was also solid from the baseline in the three sets he won, hitting 33 winners and converting 5 of 10 break-point opportunities.
Shang, meanwhile, was tested in his opener but dominated in the second round. He was exceptional on serve, winning 89% of points behind his first serve and hitting 5 aces. He delivered an impressive 53 winners from 114 points won while conceding only 31 unforced errors. His return game was also strong, as he won 45% of receiving points.
The difference in rank between Ruud and Shang shouldn't lead you to believe that this will be a one-sided match. The Chinese player has a better win percentage on hard courts this year and could pose a significant threat to the Norwegian. Ruud can, however, take comfort in the fact that he has previously reached the finals in New York, while this is Shang's first appearance in the main draw of the US Open, with his best Grand Slam result being a third-round finish.
Pick: Ruud to win in five sets.