Juncheng Shang vs Luca Van Assche Prediction Next Gen Finals Tennis Picks 12/18/24

Juncheng Shang will play at the Next Gen ATP Finals for the first time in his career after finishing fourth in the Race to Jeddah. 

Shang compiled 1,115 points after scoring 42 wins across all levels in 2024. He is the newest Chinese star rising to the top of men's tennis.

The 19-year-old won a maiden ATP Tour title this year in his home country at the Chengdu Open, knocking off a list of seasoned pros including Kei Nishikori, Alexander Bublik and Lorenzo Musetti.

But recent form coming to Saudi Arabia doesn't inspire a lot, with just one main draw win at Tour level since that breakthrough run to the his first ATP title.

Luca Van Assche Preview

Luca Van Assche finished sixth in the Race to Jeddah, thereby earning a spot in the Next Gen ATP Finals for the second successive year.

He was a semifinalist last year after winning two group-stage matches before bowing out of the tournament to countryman Arthur Fils.

Van Assche, a 20-year-old Belgian-born Frenchman, won 34 matches in all competitions in 2024, but failed to add to his trophy cabinet which holds three Challenger titles.

He is currently on a four-match losing streak. His last win was towards the end of October when he beat Damir Dzumhur in the round of 16 at the Brest Challenger.

Juncheng Shang vs Luca Van Assche Head-To-Head

• Shang and Van Assche have no previous history at any level. Wednesday's match will be their first official match.

Juncheng Shang vs Luca Van Assche Prediction

Both players are evidently in dire form, but that won't necessarily affect their performance levels at the Next Gen ATP Finals. Shang is a more efficient and powerful shotmaker although he is yet to muster a big result or deep run an indoor hard court in his young career. He should probably win this match, but I feel the value call is for Van Assche to stretch him to at least four sets.