Shang, immediately very strong.

The Chinese player hasn’t wasted any time since his return and has just put together a great tournament in Montreal.

After a relatively decent loss to Nishikori in Washington, Shang clearly raised his level in Montreal and put together a good tournament, even if I should point out that he benefited from a pretty nice first round against Vallejo, who still doesn’t play well on fast surfaces. Then he saved match points against Rublev before completely collapsing against Darderi after the first set. It’s a good tournament, but it’s not exceptional given that he could have been knocked out as early as the second round. I’m not questioning his level, but I also want to put the tournament into context. He took another MTO against Darderi, and it’s quite clear that when matches drag on, he can get cramps or have minor physical issues. That’ll be something to watch given the humidity in Cincinnati.

Sonego can also get cramps, which could make the match very entertaining if both players end up playing three tight sets. The Italian is also a bit bothered by some minor physical problems. He’s had a few issues with his wrist very recently and hasn’t been able to play much since Wimbledon. His match against Griekspoor wasn’t great, but it wasn’t a simple match-up for him either. The conditions in Montreal weren’t ideal for him; it was even a bit slow. He wasn’t able to make as much of a difference as usual with his serve–forehand combo. That should normally be a bit more the case this week in a tournament where he’s generally pretty good. He likes it when it’s fast and he can capitalize on his two main weapons. Conversely, I think Shang really enjoyed having more time in Montreal, both to return and to set up his game before making good inroads with his forehand.

The Chinese player didn’t get a single break point against Nishikori in a three-set match. I don’t really categorize him as a good returner. You also have to be careful with the mental aspect, because he’s a player who does have some attitude issues when things don’t go his way. He showed that against Vallejo in the first round, where he was the favorite and expected to win. He was still quite tense despite the scoreline. On the other hand, whether it was against Rublev or Darderi, in the underdog role with nothing to lose, I found him very relaxed, smiling, and with a good attitude. That can allow him to play some huge tennis. Here, we’re back to a match that should be fairly tight, where I think he’s capable of getting frustrated and losing the mental thread a bit several times.