In the sweltering heat of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Jesper de Jong pulled off a hard-fought victory on Friday, outlasting China's Juncheng Shang 7-6(4), 6-4 in the first round. The Dutch qualifier, ranked outside the top 100, showed remarkable resilience, saving key breakpoints and capitalizing on his opponent's unforced errors. Indeed, de Jong's backhand slices kept Shang off balance throughout, a tactic that paid dividends in the second set.
Now, de Jong faces a sterner test in the second round against Jakub Mensik, the young Czech sensation who's been turning heads this season. Mensik, just 19, bypassed the first round with a bye and enters with a 28-15 record in 2025, including a title in Winston-Salem. His powerful serve and aggressive baseline game have drawn comparisons to some of the tour's top guns, but de Jong won't be intimidated—after all, the Dutchman has notched upsets before, like his run at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Daniel Altmaier, the German journeyman, exited early in Shanghai, falling 6-3, 7-5 to Thiago Seyboth Wild in the opening round. Altmaier, who reached a career-high of No. 47 last year, struggled with his first serve percentage dipping below 60%, a recurring issue that's hampered his progress. However, his head-to-head with de Jong remains competitive; they split their two prior meetings, the last one a three-set thriller in Munich back in April.
These matchups highlight the depth in men's tennis right now, where qualifiers like de Jong can challenge seeded players, yet consistency eludes many. Mensik's meteoric rise adds intrigue—will his youth prevail, or can de Jong's experience shine through? Moreover, Altmaier's early exit underscores the fine margins at this level.
As the Shanghai draw tightens, one wonders how these underdogs might reshape the narrative in a season full of surprises.