Two home rising stars, Shang Juncheng and Buyunchaokete both won in the men's singles first round at the Shanghai Masters in east China's Shanghai Municipality on Thursday.

Wildcard Shang beat Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. He earned a break first in the fifth game and then held in the sixth to lead 4-2 before claiming the set with a love game in the 10th.

Kovacevic rallied in the second set to break Shang in the fourth game and continued to hold to take the set, tying the match 1-1.

Shang built a 3-1 advantage after four games in the decider. Though Kovacevic saved three match points in the ninth, he couldn't stop 20-year-old Chinese from converting the fourth and advancing to the second round.

Shang will face No. 9 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia next.

Elsewhere, Buyunchaokete defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 to progress at the tournament. The two went though six deuces in the fourth game before the 23-year-old Chinese finally converted a break point for a 3-1 lead. He then continued to take the set to gain the upper hand in the contest.

The second set grew closer as Cerundolo saved a break point to drag it into a tiebreak. He scored two consecutive points a at 5-5 to clinch the set and force a decider.

Buyunchaokete held in the fifth game and then broke Cerundolo in the sixth for a 4-2 advantage. He had the chance to seal the deal in his fifth service game and he capitalized on it for the win.

Italian No. 26 seed Luciano Darderi awaits in the second round.