In the latest installment of the Chengdu Open, top seed Lorenzo Musetti faced a challenging opening match against Croatia’s Dino Prizmic. Demonstrating resilience and determination, Musetti overcame his opponent with a scoreline of 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 after a grueling two-hour and 16-minute battle.
Musetti, who reached the final of this tournament last year, expressed his ambition to improve upon that performance. “Before the tournament started, I mentioned that my goal is to take revenge from last year. It was a significant run for me, and I am hopeful that this year will bring even better results. This is a solid start,” he stated following his victory.
Prizmic matched Musetti blow for blow, each player landing 27 winners. However, it was Musetti who found his rhythm in the final set, pulling away to secure the win. “I started with a bit of tension. It’s natural, considering this was my first match in over two weeks. The initial match in China always presents its difficulties—each year brings different conditions, and I had to adjust, especially against a solid opponent like Prizmic,” he reflected.
The Italian’s win marks his third quarter-final appearance at the Chengdu Open. He will next go up against Georgia’s Nikolas Basilashvili, who defeated Australia’s Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(4).
In a surprising turn, former champion Shang Junchen’s reign ended prematurely. Brandon Nakashima dispatched him in the second round, winning 7-5, 6-3. Nakashima, seeded fourth, advances to his seventh ATP Tour quarter-final this season, where he will encounter compatriot Marcus Giron, who outplayed Lorenzo Sonego, the eighth seed, with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
In other results, second seed Lorenzo Darderi fell to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who secured a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory. Tabilo took a moment to share his relief after a challenging year: “It’s been a very tough year for me, so I’m just happy to get back into rhythm. I hope this is the start of something better,” he noted, expressing his optimism in an on-court interview. Tabilo’s next opponent will be Australia’s Chris O’Connell, who defeated Zhou Yi in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Moving on to the Hangzhou Open, Daniil Medvedev, seeded second, began his campaign with a solid victory over American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy, winning 6-2, 6-3. This victory marked a positive shift for Medvedev, who has faced challenges throughout the year. “I’m really pleased with how I played, especially my serving. I haven’t won many matches lately, so it feels good to secure this win. I enjoy the city and look forward to staying for a bit longer,” the Russian said after his match.
Medvedev’s next challenge will be against local favorite Wu Yibing, who fought back to beat American Sebastian Korda 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Unfortunately for Medvedev’s fellow compatriot and top seed Andrey Rublev, his run ended in the second round. French qualifier Valentin Royer pulled off an upset, achieving a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
“Oh my god, I really don’t know what to say right now. I’m just so thrilled with my performance,” Royer expressed after his match. “Competing against a player like Andrey is an honor, and I’m excited to make it to the quarters.”
Royer’s next opponent will be 19-year-old Learner Tien, who triumphed over italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, winning 6-4, 6-3. Meanwhile, Frenchman Corentin Moutet and Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry also advanced to the quarter-finals, setting up an exciting matchup as both players secured wins in their respective second-round encounters. Moutet squeezed past fellow Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, while Etcheverry took down Australian Rinky Hijikata with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
As the tournament progresses, the excitement and competitive spirit on display promise thrilling matches ahead.
