CHENGDU, September 20, 2024 (Press Release)
Singles third seed Nicolas Jarry of Chile marked a winning start to his Chengdu Open debut with a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 victory over Slovakia’s Lukas Klein in two hours and 18 minutes. The world No. 28 Jarry hit 19 aces and converted five of seven break points, ending a 7-match losing streak dating back to his ATP Masters final appearance in Rome this May.
A 25th quarter-final 💪@NicoJarry defeats Klein 7-6 3-6 6-4 to end his losing streak#ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/DL1MZp0uw3
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 20, 2024
“I’m really happy with my performance. It’s been a tough month, and I’m just trying to improve each day. I think I’ve made some progress from yesterday to today, so I’m extremely happy with how I played. I know I can play better, but I’m taking it step by step,” said the 28-year-old.
Fourth-seeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez also advanced to the quarterfinals with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in one hour and 24 minutes. In his Chengdu Open debut, the 27-year-old world No. 42 kept Vukic on the back foot, creating 11 break point chances and converting three to secure his fourth career hard court quarterfinal.
Completing the lineup 👏@PedroMPortero defeats Vukic 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals at the @ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/DRz2IcJKcG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 20, 2024
In the day’s opening Centre Court match, qualifier Alibek Kachmazov maintained his impressive run with a 7-6(1), 6-1 win over Japan’s world No. 90 Taro Daniel, marking the 22-year-old world No. 252’s biggest career victory. In sweltering conditions upwards of 35 degrees, Kachmazov hit eight aces and converted all four break points in the one hour and 20-minute contest to move into his first ATP Tour quarterfinal.
“Conditions were tough on the court, but maybe I had an advantage from coming through the qualifiers and playing more matches here, as well as three Challengers in China before this. I’m happy that I can produce tennis like this and I hope to continue in this way,” said Kachmazov.
In the subsequent Centre Court encounter, Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann kept the trend of qualifiers advancing alive by defeating seventh-seeded Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 49 minutes, moving into his 17th career quarterfinal and only his second on hard courts.
Despite the six-foot-eight Mpetshi Perricard serving up 22 aces, Hanfmann stayed calm and took his opportunities when they came, converting vital break points in the first and third sets and holding his own serve admirably, only facing two breaks throughout the match.
“It’s tough against a big server; you have to be patient and wait for your chances while staying alert to return. I thought I handled that well and also served quite well. I only had a few opportunities and used them, so I’m happy with this win,” said the 32-year-old.
In doubles action, Chinese wild cards Mo Yecong and Tang Sheng pulled off an impressive 6-3, 7-6(8) upset against the Zimbabwean sibling duo Benjamin and Courtney John Lock, securing their first ATP Tour-level win on Tang’s ATP Tour debut.
Meanwhile, top seeds and defending champions Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul from France progressed as expected, winning 6-2, 6-3 against fellow countrymen Adrian Mannarino and Alexandre Muller, while second seeds Ivan Dodig and Rafael Matos also moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Pavel Kotov and Mpetshi Perricard.
Saturday will feature the remaining four singles second round matches, headlined by the tournament’s top two seeds. Top seed Lorenzo Musetti is set to make his much-awaited debut and will take on Australian Christopher O’Connell in a first-time meeting, while second seed Alexander Bublik will commence his Chengdu Open campaign against Argentinian qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez in another first-time encounter.
Local fans will be focused on two Chinese hopefuls. Shang Juncheng will aim for his fourth quarterfinal of the year as he faces last year’s finalist Roman Safiullin, having previously beaten him at the 2022 Lexington Challenger. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Zhou Yi, fresh off his first ATP Tour win, will take on 36-year-old fifth seed Adrian Mannarino in an intriguing clash of youth vs experience.
