1998 Australian Open finalist Marcelo Rios suggested he was fired by Juncheng Shang because the 17-year-old’s father wanted him gone. Shang, who is currently enjoying a career-high ranking of No. 195 in the world, is one of the most promising young players on the ATP Tour.
“They didn’t give me a reason. Not even ‘we don’t like they way you dress’ Asked Jerry [Juncheng] and he told me ‘my dad’, so I understood everything,” Rios told La Tercera, as revealed by Jose Morgado.
Former #1 Marcelo Rios was coaching prodigy Juncheng Shang but was fired and blames Shang’s parents
“They didn’t give me a reason. Not even ‘we don’t like they way you dress’ Asked Jerry [Juncheng] and he told me ‘my dad…’
, so I understood everything”https://t.co/wP0wOdbAUZ — José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 19, 2022
This season, Shang has made two Challenger – one won Challenger title – and also collected a Futures title.
Rios is 100% sure that he wasn’t fired because of Shang’s results of performance. “His parents don’t give him any space. They are always with him and that hurts the kid. I wasn’t fired because of results, he made two finals and was #190 ATP.
But I will be honest: didn’t enjoy my time with that father,” Rios added.
“Their parents don’t give him any space. They are always with him and that hurts the kid. I wasn’t fire because of results, he made two finals and was #190 ATP.
But I will be honest: didn’t enjoy my time with that father” — José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 19, 2022
Rios had a hard time dealing with Shang’s father
“For me, a professional should practice twice per day on court + physical.
Shang was doing 2 hours per day, wakes up at 12pm, every little pain and we stop. In the week that his dad had covid we didn’t practice. Such a different and tough culture to understand,” Rios claimed.
Ríos. “For me, a professional should practice twice per day on court + physical.
Shang was doing 2 hours per day, wakes up at 12pm, every little pain and we stop. In the week that his dad had covid we didn’t practice. Such a different and tough culture to understand” — José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 19, 2022
In August, Shang made back-to-back Challenger finals in Lexington and Granby.
Shang went all the way in Lexington, while he ended runner-up in Granby. After being out of action for two weeks, Shang returned to action at last week’s Cary Challenger. In Cary, Shang suffered a three-set defeat to Jordan Thompson in the round-of-16.
Overall, it has been a good and positive year for Shang result-wise. Shang, who started the year as the 666th-ranked player in the world, is now inside the top-200. With a few more notable results in the rest of the year, Shang could very well broke into the top-150.