China's Shang suffers 2nd consecutive defeat at Next Gen ATP Finals

China's Shang Juncheng suffered his second consecutive defeat at the Next Gen ATP Finals, losing 3-4(4), 4-2, 4-2, 4-1 to American Nishesh Basavareddy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In the first round of the Red Group, Shang fell 3-1 to France's Luca Van Assche, marking the 19-year-old's debut in the tournament. The World No. 50 started strongly on Thursday, taking the first set 4-3 in a tie-break. However, Basavareddy bounced back in the second set and went on to win it 4-2. The World No. 138 maintained his momentum, taking the third set 4-2 and holding on to win the fourth set and match 4-1. The victory secured the seventh seed his first career ATP Tour win.

Basavareddy is now 1-1 in the group and will aim to clinch a spot in the semi-finals when he faces sixth seed Luca Van Assche on Friday. Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Shang will take on another American, Alex Michelsen, who has already secured a spot in the last four with a 2-0 record in the Red Group.