CHENGDU, September 18, 2024 (Press Release)

France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard overcame a strong challenge from Chinese wild card Sun Fajing in Wednesday’s featured Centre Court match at the Chengdu Open 2024, hitting 34 aces as he rallied from a one-set deficit to win 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4 in a thrilling two-hour and 28-minute encounter.

Holding strong 💪

No. 7 seed @MpetshiG comes through a tough battle 6-7 7-5 6-4 against Sun to make the second round in Chengdu!#ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/fN7ypm70xM

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 18, 2024

“He played very well. I found myself in trouble often, but my serve really helped me today. I’m very happy to advance to the second round,” said the six-foot-eight 21-year-old, who claimed his first career title in Lyon this year.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Taro Daniel secured a 6-4, 7-5 upset victory over Italian No.6 seed Lorenzo Sonego in one hour and 29 minutes, converting both break points and saving the only one he faced to snap a four-match losing streak.

“It was a great match for me. He’s a player who’s been having a good year, so it’s great to have a straight sets victory against someone like this. I’ve have been lacking confidence to win matches, but today was an example that if you just keep going, the wins will come,” said the 31-year-old, who incidentally also defeated a world No.50 opponent in his first-round match here last year.

In Wednesday’s opening Center Court clash, Slovakia’s Lukas Klein defeated Australia’s Adam Walton 7-6(3), 6-4, firing 12 aces and converting four of five break points during the one hour and 40 minutes.

“The first set was close and winning it probably decided the outcome of the match, as I started the second set feeling pretty relaxed. This allowed me to be more aggressive and I was able to get an early break and then hold my serve, so I’m happy about that,” said the 26-year-old, who will face third seed Nicolas Jarry in the second round.

Several young rising stars have advanced to the singles main draw after winning their qualifying finals today, including 21-year-old Japanese Shintaro Mochizuki, 22-year-old Frenchman Terence Atmane, 22-year-old Alibek Kachmazov, with Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez also making the cut.

All nine remaining first-round matches will be contested across three courts on Thursday, with Centre Court set to showcase matches featuring the two remaining wild cards, as well as a showdown between two former finalists.

The day will kick off with 19-year-old former junior world No.3 Zhou Yi attempting to secure his first ATP Tour main draw win against Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Chun-Hsin.

This will be followed by an exciting face-off between two Asian stars—one emerging and one veteran—as 19-year-old Chinese sensation Shang Juncheng takes on 34-year-old former world No.4 wild card Kei Nishikori, who is attempting a comeback after a few years of injury struggles.

Shang, known as Jerry, made history this year by becoming the first Chinese teenager to break into the Top 100 since 1973 in May, and he also reached the third round of the Australian Open, the first Chinese man to do so in the Open Era. He further solidified his status by making another strong run to the third round of the US Open last month, reaching a career high of No.66.

The night’s final Centre Court match will see eighth-seeded world No.56 Roman Safiullin face world No.79 Fabio Fognini in a first-time contest between two former finalists.

Tournament fifth seed, 36-year-old Adrian Mannarino, will also compete in a youth vs experience clash tomorrow, meeting 22-year-old qualifier and compatriot Terence Atmane in a first-time encounter on Court 1.