Shang wins rollercoaster 4-hour battle with Moutet

Chinese teen Shang Juncheng claimed a remarkable victory over Corentin Moutet in a near four-hour rollercoaster at the Mutua Madrid Open Thursday.

The #NextGenATP 19-year-old, who goes by the nickname 'Jerry', clubbed his 37th forehand winner on his sixth match point to claim an epic 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(10) victory to set a second-round battle with Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

"It's gotta be the longest match I have ever played in my life," said Shang, who climbed to a career-high No. 103 in the PIF ATP Rankings with the win.

"On clay it was very tough physically against an amazing player like Corentin. The level was insane. Even had I lost I would not have had regrets. It was almost the perfect match for me.”

In an eventful match in which the players combined to convert just six of 30 break point chances, Moutet needed nine set points to close out the first set. Later in the match he had a point replayed when he was accidentally sprayed by water being applied to an adjacent court.

Moutet went down his first match point after losing his racquet from his hand while serving at 5/5 in the third-set tie-break. At 9/10 he saved his fifth match point with a dead forehand netcord.

Shang, who likely will crack the Top 100 should he reach the third round, admitted going into the match that he feared the unexpected against the Frenchman.

"I was talking to my dad and I said 'What is the worst thing that can happen?' I told my team that the only player I didn't want to play was Corentin," Shang said. "I don't' want to see him in the first round of the draw. When I got him I just told myself: 'Win or lose I would have fun and enjoy every point."'