Shang saves five match points to stun Rublev in Montreal epic

Saving five match points from 2-5 down in the decider, Juncheng “Jerry” Shang stunned No 10 seed Andrey Rublev 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) in Montreal. Ranked No 270 and only three matches into his comeback from March foot surgery, the 21-year-old became the first Chinese man to reach the third round here in the Open Era.

Jerry Shang, 2025 | © Tennis Majors

Tennis Majors

August 5, 2026

National Bank Open presented by Rogers •Second round • Completed

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J. ShangvsA. Rublev

Juncheng “Jerry” Shang produced one of the escapes of the season to knock out No 10 seed Andrey Rublev 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) on Tuesday evening and reach the third round of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers — becoming the first Chinese man ever to do so in Montreal in the Open Era.

For long stretches of the decider it looked impossible. Rublev, the world No 16, broke to lead 5-2 and had the finish line in sight, but the 21-year-old refused to go quietly. Shang saved five match points in all – four of them in one extraordinary service game at 4-5 – hauling himself level from 2-5 down to force a tiebreak, which he then clinched 7-5. Through it all, as the pressure mounted, he simply kept swinging.

The comeback is all the more remarkable given where Shang has been. Ranked down at No 270 after foot surgery in March, the Chinese talent is only three matches into his return to competition. This was his fifth win of 2026 and, more strikingly, his first top-20 victory of the year.

Having eased past Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (6-3, 6-3) in the opening round, Shang now waits for No 19 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy.