CHENGDU, September 24, 2026 (Media Release)
Seventh seed Denis Shapovalov marked his return to the Chengdu Open with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in one hour and 31 minutes.
The World No. 50 Canadian broke in the third and fifth games of the opener and saved three of the four break points he faced to take the first set.
Neither player surrendered serve in a tense second set, with Shapovalov forced to save two set points at 5-6 to reach a tie-break. After the pair exchanged early mini-breaks, the former World No. 10 reeled off four consecutive points from 2-2 to take control before sealing the victory 7-3.
Milestone 🆙 for @denis_shapo 👏
The Canadian sees off Griekspoor 6-4, 7-6 to reach the second round in Chengdu. @ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/hQBni062pk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2026
“It’s always very tough to play against Tallon, and the second set was extremely close,” said Shapovalov. “I saved a couple of big set points and came up with some big serves, so I’m very happy overall and just happy to be into the next round.”
The victory also marked Shapovalov’s 250th tour-level win, making him the third Canadian man to reach the milestone after Milos Raonic and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“It feels incredible. It’s a great group of players to be part of, so I’m very happy to get my 250th win,” he added. “I didn’t even know, but it’s a great achievement and definitely something to be proud of.”
Meanwhile, fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz withstood a spirited second-set challenge from 25-year-old Kazakh Aleksandr Shevchenko to prevail 6-3, 7-6(10) in one hour and 21 minutes, marking a winning debut in Chengdu.
“Sasha was playing some good tennis. He’s a great player and was very competitive, so I’m very glad to have come out on top in that second-set tie-break,” said Hurkacz.
Earlier in the day, French veteran Adrian Mannarino ended home favourite Jerry Shang’s Chengdu Open campaign with a 7-6(9), 6-2 victory in one hour and 43 minutes.
Shang was under sustained pressure throughout a closely contested opening set, but saved all eight break points he faced to force a tie-break. The 21-year-old then appeared to have seized the initiative when he earned two set points at 6-4. However, the 2024 champion was unable to convert either opportunity, nor two further set points at 8-7 and 9-8.
In the end, it was 38-year-old Mannarino who remained composed in the key moments, converting his second set point in the tie-break to take the first set, before breaking Shang twice in the second set to complete the straight-sets victory.
“The first set could have gone either way. I felt that I was dominating before the tie-break, but he started the tie-break very well and was ahead most of the time,” said Mannarino. “I feel fortunate to have won it because, in such a tight first set, the player who wins it takes a big advantage into the rest of the match.”
In the night’s final match on Centre Court, Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo ended wild card Yi Zhou’s hopes of reaching the Chengdu Open second round for a third consecutive year, saving all three break points he faced and converting three of his six opportunities in a 6-4, 6-3 victory lasting one hour and 31 minutes.
Three qualifiers also advanced to the second round in straight sets. Former World No. 16 Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(3), 6-4, Lloyd Harris overcame Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4, and Alexandre Muller ousted French Next Gen entrant Moise Kouame 6-4, 6-0.
Lorenzo Sonego also progressed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over James Duckworth, while Italian lucky loser Federico Cina, who replaced sixth seed Nuno Borges in the draw, made the most of his opportunity by defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-2. US-American Martin Damm completed the day’s singles results with a 6-1, 6-4 win over qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.
