RUSSIAN top 10 talent Andrey Rublev put an end to giant-killing Chinese teenager Juncheng Shang‘s run in Hong Kong, defeating him in a come-from-behind victory to get up in three sets and reach the final. The world number five had to grind hard against the wildcard, eventually winning 4-6 6-2 6-3 in two hours and nine minutes.

Shang – ranked 183rd in the world – has enjoyed a brilliant tournament, winning three consecutive matches at the ATP 250 event after entering 2024 with a 4-11 Tour record. Though his run came to an end against the top seed, Shang lost no respect from his peers and moved up 41 spots to 142nd in the world. His performance at Hong Kong caught the eye of Australian Open tournament directors, handing him a wildcard for the main draw of the Grand Slam.

In an outstanding match for the viewers, Rublev kept finding a way to outpoint Shang in the last two sets, but had to go to a fair higher level than what a world number five might have to against a player ranked just inside the top 200.

“It was a super tough match. He’s super talented and super powerful, he was playing unbelievable, making winners from any position and I was thinking at some points I have no chance,” Rublev said post-match. “I definitely wasn’t surprised as he’s beaten some great players this week and since the beginning of the match he was hitting with full power. I was just afraid what to do.

“Somehow, I kept fighting, made myself think positive thoughts, to keep negative thoughts out of my head. It was close right until the end.”

While many of the top players took up a spot in the Brisbane International or United Cup, Rublev opted for Hong Kong where he reached the final, beating Liam Broady and Arthur Fils along the way. He was able to remain grounded despite some fans believing he was a monty to reach the final.

“I’m really happy to be in my first final in Hong Kong in my first tournament of the season,” Rublev said. “When I arrived here people were saying, ‘See you on Sunday’. They don’t understand it’s not about ranking. The reality is different.

“You can be the No.1, but when you go to play some players like Fils yesterday or Shang tonight, they prove they will be great players this year. It’s tough.”

Rublev recorded 12 aces among his 29 winners to reach his 24th ATP Tour final, but Shang was far from dismayed from the result.

“Definitely very happy with the performance overall this week,” Shang said. “I played a very disciplined week and Andrey is a Top 5 player, it was a pleasure to share the court with him.

“The game plan was to make him run, to impose my tennis, which I did very well, but kind of ran out of gas in the second set. He was the better player in the end, hats off to him. In general, it’s a huge confidence boost, everything about this week is a positive. I’m heading towards the right path and we’ll see in Melbourne.

“Looking back this is always going to be the special one and hopefully I can make more memories like this very soon.”

Rublev will now face Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori who fought back from a set down as well to put away Austrian Sebastian Ofner, 4-6 7-5 6-3. The world number 69 won 80 per cent of his first serve points and broke three times to two in the tough match to reach the decider.

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL – ATP 250

In the other ATP 250 event, both top two seeds reached the decider, winning their semi-finals in straight sets. Denmark’s Holger Rune battled past Russian Roman Safiullin to win 6-4 7-6 in an hour and 37 minutes, winning through as top seed. He hit seven aces and won 81 per cent of his first serve points, and though Safiullin was great off his first serve (31 of 35), struggled off his second with just a 32 per cent success rate.

Rune will take on second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the final after the Bulgarian after winning 6-3 7-5 in an hour and 49 minutes over Australian Jordan Thompson. Dimitrov served 10 aces to five and won a blistering 39 of 45 points off his first serve to defeat Thompson after the Aussie stunned Rafael Nadal in the quarter finals.