Frances Tiafoe vs. Shang Juncheng
Tiafoe and Shang delivered two of the most eye-popping surprises of the first day.
Shang, 17, became the first Chinese man in the Open era to win a match in an Australian Open main draw—incredible but true. Tiafoe’s thunderbolt wasn’t quite as historic, but it was memorable: He gave us the fashion statement of the first round, showing up in a runner’s-style singlet and fitted shorts, both covered in bright, swirly, painterly colors. As Gauff said, “It’s loud, just like Foe.”
The first meeting between Shang and Tiafoe could be as colorful and high energy as the American’s clothes. The teenager, a lefty who came out of qualifying, is a shade under six feet, but he has strong legs and a live arm, and he can run around and knock off inside-out forehands all day. His serve has also become a weapon, and he recorded a respectable first-round win over Oscar Otte.
But at 24, Tiafoe is a step or three ahead of Shang in the career-development department. He’s become a regular in the mid-to-later stages of the Slams, and is playing with power and speed that few opponents outside the elite can match. That will likely include Shang. Winner: Tiafoe