Shang Juncheng of China celebrates after winning the men's single 1st round match against Oscar Otte of Germany at Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 16, 2023. Photo: Xinhua/Bai Xuefei

 Tennis prodigy Shang Juncheng made history on Monday by becoming the first male Chinese player to win an Australian Open main draw singles match.

Seventeen-year-old Shang beat Germany's Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, even though Otte has a lot more experience. Shang is also the youngest male competitor in this year's main draw.

Shang may face US player Frances Tiafoe in the second round.

The Australian Open is Shang's first adult competition, and his win is a milestone for his personal career as well.

Born into a sporting family, Shang's father Shang Yi was a professional football player who played at international level, and his mother Wu Na was a former table tennis world champion.

Their son chose tennis out of his own interest, Shang Yi once said in an interview.

"Just like most other sportsmen, my ultimate goal is to take first place, to be the best," the young tennis player told The Paper in a previous interview.

After starting his tennis career at the age of five, Shang has been training in the US since the age of 11.

In 2021, the rising star made impressive progress at junior level, making it to the quarter-finals of the French Open, the semi-finals of Wimbledon, and the 2021 US Open Boys' singles final.

There are two other Chinese male players in the Australian Open singles competition this year, Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing.