Juncheng Shang vs Max Purcell Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Atlanta Open

Prediction published on 26/07/2024, 05:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/07/2024 at 05:50 in Tennis Predictions

Qualifier Juncheng Shang caused a big shock on Thursday when beating top seed Ben Shelton. Now he takes on the eighth seed Max Purcell in the last eight of the Atlanta Open. Let's look in detail at the match and provide you with our prediction.

Max Purcell is ranked 66th in the world but up to 58th in the live rankings. He had good form on grass last month with a run to the final of the Eastbourne tournament but then lost in round one at Wimbledon. Like his opponent he hasn't qualified for the Paris Olympics.

The Australian is playing his first ATP Tour hard court quarter-final of 2024. His form on this surface had been disappointing with a run of four consecutive defeats.  Round one saw him have to come from behind to beat Christopher O'Connell.

That took him into a second round match against David Goffin which he won in straight sets, both being won by a 6-3 scoreline. The winner of this match faces either fourth seed Jordan Thompson or fifth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the last four.

Juncheng Shang is up to a new career-high of 82nd in the live rankings. Aged 19, the Chinese player had to qualify to get into the main draw of this tournament.

His first qualifier was against Liam Broady and he lost the first set before dropping only four games in the next two. It was smoother progress in the final qualifying round with a straight sets win over J J Wolf. That took him into round one where he beat Andres Martin with only two games lost.

More success came in round two as he beat the top seed Ben Shelton without dropping a set. He looks in good form and we tip him to beat Purcell.