The ATP Tour took a brief pause as the focus shifted to the Davis Cup last weekend, paving the way for the resumption of action in China. This week, two ATP 250 events commenced in Chengdu and Hangzhou, both of which kicked off on Wednesday.
In Chengdu, Italian talent Lorenzo Musetti led the draw after receiving a first-round bye. However, all eyes were on local favorite Shang Juncheng, the reigning champion and a 20-year-old wild card recipient. Coming back from a foot injury sustained earlier in the year, Shang successfully launched his title defense by overcoming Belgium’s Zizou Bergs with a scoreline of 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. This match marked Shang’s return to competitive play following surgery for his injury last March, as he managed to fend off six of seven break points against the world No. 46.
Another promising Chinese player, Zhou Yi, also made headlines as he achieved an upset victory against Britain’s second seed, Cameron Norrie, ranked No. 34 in the world. Zhou clinched the match 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(2), marking his biggest career triumph to date. Next up for Shang is a clash with American fourth seed Brandon Nakashima, while Zhou will face Australia’s Chris O’Connell, who progressed after defeating Frenchman Quentin Letts.
Marcos Giron from the United States also moved on to the second round, dispatching fellow American Ethan Quinn 7-5, 6-4. Giron will next encounter either Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Sonego or Juan Manuel Cerundolo from Argentina.
In Hangzhou, 19-year-old Learner Tien, who is making strides in his young career, began the tournament as the seventh seed. He overcame Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a closely contested match, coming back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Tien saved nine out of thirteen break points, turning the tide after trailing 1-3 in the final set. Following the match, he expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing his ability to stay composed during critical moments.
Hangzhou local Wu Yibing, 25, also secured his place in the second round with a hard-fought victory against French player Adrian Mannarino, finishing the match 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5. Wu’s recent performances have been encouraging as he climbs back into the ATP rankings following an injury-plagued period that saw him drop as low as No. 584 last August. His next opponent will be Sebastian Korda from the United States or Australian Adam Walton.
With these matches setting the stage, fans can look forward to an exciting second round in both Chengdu and Hangzhou as the tournament progresses.
