Juncheng Shang vs Mackenzie Mcdonald Prediction & Betting Tips - Shenzhen Open, China

Prediction published on 21/09/2023, 02:43  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 21/09/2023 at 04:12 in Tennis Predictions

Sixth seed Mackenzie McDonald will battle unseeded Juncheng Shang on Thursday at the Zhuhai Championship first round. Shang is making his debut in Zhuhai and arrives following a second-round exit in Guangzhou. The 18-year-old will hope to have a better run here as he did at the Shanghai Challenger earlier in the month. Shang has been in good form this season and has compiled a 31-19 record thus far. Hard court is where the majority of his victories have come. He has won 21 matches on the surface with six of those coming in his last 10 fixtures. The Chinese number three is currently ranked 159th in the live ranking.

Mackenzie McDonald last played in Zhuhai five years ago. He made it to the second round then. McDonald comes to this match after a disappointing outing with Team USA in the Davis Cup. America were dumped out of the tournament by Finland with McDonald losing his second Singles match against Otto Virtanen. He will target getting right back on the horse with a prolonged stay in Zhuhai. The 28-year-old has recorded 19 of his 30 total victories on hard court which should have him confident of a winning start here. McDonald is currently ranked 38th in the live ranking which is a career high placing for him. The winner here will play either Aleksandar Kovacevic or Kimmer Coppejans in the next round.