Shang on his state of mind: "In the end, winning may not be the most important thing".
Shang Juncheng has had a solid year on the main circuit.
The 19-year-old Chinese left-hander broke into the top 50 for the first time this season and won his first ATP title at home in Chengdu in September.
He now heads to the Next Gen ATP Finals, where he will face Luca Van Assche to open the tournament at 12 noon (French time) on Wednesday December 18.
In an interview with the official ATP website, Shang talks about his new life on the circuit.
"I think I'm still the same happy kid. I try to be happy on the court, to learn every day about what I can do to improve.
It's a little challenge every day to become a better player. The mentality is the same. As soon as you step on the court, you have to give 100%.
That's what I'm told all the time. You have to be a competitor, but at the same time you have to know your values.
In the end, winning may not be the most important thing. The most important thing is to enjoy and appreciate the people who are watching you.
It's the people around you who are by your side that count," he said a few hours before his debut.
Davis Cup: between reforms, criticism and national culture 
When tennis stars change courts: from Noah the singer to Safin the deputy, another match – the battle of reinvention 
As a laboratory for tomorrow’s tennis, does the Next Gen Masters have a future? 
Tennis: the little-known truths about the offseason, between rest, stress and physical survival 
