From Tennis Now | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Photo: MGM Macau Tennis Masters Facebook
Christmas in Macau will be a tennis holiday.
The captains Lee Na (photo above) and Michael Chang have selected their teams for the 2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters, which will host Asia’s first mixed team format tournament.
Pegula: The Swiatek case inspires confidence and disappointment
The two-day event of the exhibition is scheduled for December 24-25. Li Na and Michael Chang each selected three standout players from the ATP and WTA Tours for their teams.
Team Li Na features rising Chinese stars Shang Juncheng AND Wang Xinyunext to Norway Casper Ruud.
On the opposite side, Team Michael Chang STARS Andrey Rublev, Karolina Muchova, AND Lorenzo Musetti.
On Tuesday 24 December, the action kicks off with the Captain’s Challenge at 1pm and will be followed by the first men’s singles, in which Casper Ruud takes on Lorenzo Musetti. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 1-1, setting the stage for a fascinating battle.
This will be followed by Shang Juncheng taking on Andrey Rublev. The two have clashed once before in the regular tournament, with Rublev coming out on top in Hong Kong. Rounding out Day 1 will be an exciting mixed doubles encounter as Shang teams up with Wang Xinyu to take on Rublev and Karolina Muchova.
On Christmas Day, the first match after the Captain’s Challenge will see Wang Xinyu take on Karolina Muchova, with the latter holding a 1-0 lead in their official head-to-head match.
Next up will be another intriguing men’s encounter as Casper Ruud takes on Andrey Rublev. Their rivalry tilts in Rublev’s favor, with a head-to-head record of 5-3.
The final match of the event will be a blockbuster clash between Shang Juncheng and Lorenzo Musetti. Shang leads their tournament-level series 1-0, having triumphed over the Italian in the Chengdu Open final earlier this year.
“I think it’s going to be an incredible few days at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters, and I’m really looking forward to it as I try to come up with a plan against Michael’s team,” said Li Na. “I’m excited to have two great Chinese players, Juncheng and Xinyu, on my side, and having someone like Casper with us will be great.”
Chang, widely recognized during his playing days as one of the quickest thinkers on the court, will undoubtedly test his acumen in this unique format.
“We’ll be ready for whatever comes our way from Li Na and her team,” said Michael Chang. “I am excited with the players I have and I know they will give everything they have.
“My players have had a lot of success in Asia and feel comfortable playing here, so we are ready for the challenge.”
Tickets for the two-day tour are available through www.MGM.mo.
Day tickets are priced from MOP180 to MOP580 for VIP seats. Two-day passes start from MOP250 to MOP1,000 for VIP seats.
