Top seed Musetti Survives Prizmic Fightback to set up Basilashvili Quarterfinal
Underdogs reign as Daniel shocks third seed Griekspoor and Shevchenko ousts sixth seed Mpetshi Perricard
Top seed and 2024 finalist Lorenzo Musetti overcame a second set fight back from NextGen star Dino Prizmic to prevail 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes, advancing to the Chengdu Open quarterfinals for the third straight year.
In a tightly contested first set, the players exchanged breaks in the third and fourth games before Musetti secured a decisive break in the 11th game. The 20-year-old Prizmic responded in the second set, holding serve confidently and converting one of three break points in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and level the match. Musetti reasserted control in the decider, breaking Prizmic in the fourth and eighth games to seal the win.
“Dino is a great young player who has shown his level, and I knew it was going to be a tough first match. I had to adjust a little to the conditions, but I served really well, and that was probably key to getting the win,” said the world No.9.
In tomorrow’s quarterfinal, Musetti will face Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, who produced an impressive 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over American Mackenzie McDonald in one hour and 32 minutes, firing 14 aces and holding serve throughout. Having lost to Basilashvili at Wimbledon earlier this year, Musetti said, “I played him at Wimbledon when I perhaps wasn’t in good shape. He plays fast and likes these conditions, so it will be tricky, but we are ready to fight.”
Meanwhile, Japan’s Taro Daniel staged a sensational come-from-behind victory to oust third seed Tallon Griekspoor, defeating the Dutchman 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 55 minutes to advance to the last eight.
The world No.168 qualifier, who has reached the second round in Chengdu for three consecutive years, finally broke through to reach the quarterfinal stage for the first time. It marks the 15th ATP quarterfinal of his career and his first since Auckland in 2024, where he was the eventual runner-up.
“I’m feeling great. I think this week I’ve been playing at a really good level. It’s been a difficult season, and I felt like I couldn’t turn matches around, but suddenly I’ve won four in a row against really good players. Against (Griekspoor), I think I ended up pushing a little more than he did and that’s why I won,” said the 32-year-old.
In the day’s closing Center Court clash, 24-year-old Alexander Shevchenko staged a thrilling comeback to defeat sixth-seeded Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes.
The opening two sets were evenly matched, with neither player dropping serve and both taking early leads in the tiebreaks. In the first game of the third set, world No.96 Shevchenko converted the second of two break points to gain the upper hand and held serve to reach his second quarterfinal of the season, setting up a first-time meeting with Daniel tomorrow.
In doubles, both Chinese wild cards were unable to advance. Fourth seeds Luke Johnson and Austin Krajicek overcome a spirited second set fightback to defeat Wang Aoran and Zhou Yi 6-2, 7-6(5) in one hour and 13 minutes, while Ecuadorian-American pairing Diego Hidalgo and Patrik Trhac beat Cui Jie and Te Rigele 6-2, 6-3 in one hour.
Also recording wins in the doubles today were German-Dutch duo Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase, who edged past Nathaniel Lammons and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-6(12), 7-6(4) in a tense one hour and 55 minute encounter, and American-Dutch tandem Vasil Kirkov and Bart Stevens, who defeated the Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate and Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-4 in just 48 minutes.
In other singles quarterfinals to be contested on Center Court tomorrow, American Brandon Nakashima faces off against compatriot Marcos Giron as he aims for his third semifinal of the season. The world No.33 holds a perfect record against Giron in two previous meetings, including winning in the 2022 San Diego final to earn his maiden ATP title.
Also in action is Australia’s Christopher O’Connell, who takes on Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo for the second time in two weeks. The two met in the semifinals of the Guangzhou Huangpu Challenger last Saturday, where O’Connell retired with a back spasm.
One doubles semifinal match will also be played tomorrow, with Frantzen and Haase taking on Hidalgo and Trhac on Court 1 at 1pm.
Tickets for the 2025 Chengdu Open are available via the Damai App, as well as through the WeChat and Alipay Mini Programs.
The tournament is organised by the Chinese Tennis Association and Chengdu Municipal Government, co-organised by the Chengdu Sports Bureau, Shuangliu District Government, the Chengdu Culture and Tourism Group, promoted by IMG and the Sichuan Investment International Tennis Centre Development Co., Ltd, and operated by the Chengdu Sports Events Industry Development Co., Ltd.
The Chengdu Open is also very proud to have the support of our distinguished partners, including Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank, CSWADI Photon Technology Co., People’s Insurance Company of China, Bank of Chengdu, Li-Ning, the ATP Tour’s Premier Partner Emirates, Yonex, Jingdong Logistics, Gran Melia Chengdu, Lynk & Co, Damai, Yi-Mian, COFCO Coca-Cola, Chengdu Radio and Television, Youku Sports, Tencent Sports, Migu and Bilibili.
