China's Shang Juncheng hits a return against Germany's Oscar Otte during their men's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan 16, 2023. (PAUL CROCK / AFP)

MELBOURNE - China's 17-year-old Shang Juncheng on Monday made a stunning debut at the Australian Open, his first Grand Slam event, by powering into the second round with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 victory over Germany's Oscar Otte.

As the youngest man to join the tournament's singles draw this year, Shang also etched his name in history for delivering the maiden win by a Chinese mainland men's singles player at the Australian Open main draw in the Open Era (since 1968).

"I'm a little surprised that I came this fast, but at the same time, I think it's all the hard work from my team and myself that paid off. I think I'm just nothing else but excited about what's coming next," Shang said at a post-game press conference.

Facing off 29-year-old Germany's Oscar Otte who currently holds the 74th on the ATP rankings, world No 194 Shang Juncheng broke for a 3-2 lead in the opening set and drew his first blood without dropping any of the remaining three games

Though Otte fired 19 aces and attained a fastest serve speed of 209 km/h, Shang edged past his German opponent with his 52 winners and scored a nearly flawless 94 percent of net points.

ALSO READ: Class-act Shang signals huge potential with breakthrough win

Facing off the 29-year-old veteran who currently holds the 74th on the ATP rankings, world No 194 Shang broke for a 3-2 lead in the opening set and drew his first blood without dropping any of the remaining three games.

In the following set, two forehand unforced errors and a double fault from Otte handed Shang a second 3-2 advantage and the young gun later chalked up a 6-4 set win on his scoreboard.

The third set was dragged into a tie-breaker, where Otte prevailed 7-2 by shooting powerful winners and forcing Shang into multiple errors.

Germany's Oscar Otte reacts on a point against China's Shang Juncheng during their men's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan 16, 2023. (PAUL CROCK / AFP)

But Shang later came back in the decider for a 7-5 triumph, securing his third set win after laboring two hours and 57 minutes on Court 13 at Melbourne Park.    

"In the match points, I wasn't thinking much. I was playing very aggressively in my service games and I was holding quite easily. So I was thinking [the] worst case, you know, we play another tiebreak and if I lose in the tiebreak we go on to the fifth set," said Shang.

READ MORE: Serving notice to the world

Surrounded by his fans cheering him up on the courtside, Shang said that he felt as if playing on home soil. "Without their support, I wouldn't make it today. I really appreciate my fans who helped me win this match," he added.