Chengdu, September 29, 2019
CARRENO BUSTA OVERPOWERS BUBLIK TO TAKE CHENGDU SINGLES CROWN

Close friends Lajovic and Cacic pick up memorable first doubles title as pair

Former world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta ended his two-year title drought with a commanding performance against Kazakhstan’s rising star Alexander Bublik here at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre to pick up his fourth career title in the Chengdu Open.

Having struggled with a shoulder injury that inhibited his performances during the early season, the 28-year-old looked back to his best in a thrilling 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) comeback victory in two hours and eight minutes.

The Spaniard did not drop a single game during the final, facing and saving a solitary break point that came in the very first game of the match.

At 5-4 on serve in the first set, the current world No.63 had two break opportunities to close out the set, but could not convert and subsequently lost the opener when, at 5-6 down in the tiebreak, an astute Bublik correctly read his cross-court return and rushed the net to execute a superb cross court slice.

In the second set, Carreno Busta missed two break chances in the first game but converted the third that came in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead and held on to force a decider.
Chengdu, September 28, 2019
RESURGENT CARRENO BUSTA POWERS PAST EIGHTH SEED SHAPOVALOV; BUBLIK DEFEATS LUCKY LOSER HARRIS

Lajovic and Cacic overcome American pair Fritz and Monroe to make their first finals as a pair

Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta sustained his late season resurgence here on the Chengdu Open hard courts as he disposed of the Canadian number eight seed Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 in just 64 minutes to book his first final appearance since picking up his sixth career title at Estoril in 2017.

There was some measure of revenge for the 28-year-old Gijon native, who had lost to his 20-year-old NextGen opponent at the Rome Masters earlier this year. Carreno Busta faced two early break points in the very first game of the match, but after crucially saving them to hold serve, the six-foot-two former world No.10 did not face any more challenges on his serve and converted both chances he created – once in the first set to take a 4-2 lead and another in the second set to go 4-3 up.

With his win today, Carreno Busta makes his first final in three attempts this year and snaps a six-match losing streak in semifinal appearances since Estoril.

“It was a really good match and I played very good on serve. Probably in the first game of the match when I saved two break points, probably was the key because I need to hold my serve to put pressure on his serve. He served very well for a lot of the match, but the two games that I had a break point, I did it. It is very special, this win for me. I got my revenge for Rome and I’m happy to be in the final. I had two semifinal losses this year at Antalya and Hamburg. Well, finally I can win a semifinal and I’m excited to play my first final of the year tomorrow,” said the Spaniard.
Chengdu, September 27, 2019
EIGHTH SEED SHAPOVALOV POWERS PAST GERASIMOV
AS FOURTH SEED DIMITROV FALLS TO BUBLIK

Carreno Busta trumps Garin and Harris ousts Sousa to make first career semifinal

Canadian rising star Denis Shapovalov ensured a seeded player made the last four here in Chengdu as he defeated Belarusian Egor Gerasimov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 40 minutes to make his third semifinal of the season.

The 20-year-old world No.34 only dropped one game during his match against last week’s St. Petersburg semifinalist Gerasimov to go 3-1 down in the second set, but did not face a single break point in the first and third sets.

The confident ATP NextGen contender ended the match with flair as he hit three aces on the trot in the final game and punctuated the winning point with a stylish jumping backhand smash.

“I feel like I’m good form now. Egor is a very good up and coming player so it was difficult. It’s tough to read his serve and he’s pretty flashy also. I’m really happy to get the win and be in another semis. I feel like the courts are pretty fast which is ideal for me. I got a pretty big serve, I like to play quick so it suits me well. I’ve enjoyed my time here in Chengdu a lot so far,” said Shapovalov.

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik put on a stellar showcase in big serving tennis as he overturned a one set deficit to notch a dramatic 5-7, 7-6(9), 7-6(3) victory in two hours and 31 minutes and deny Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov his 300th career win.
Chengdu, September 26, 2019
FOURTH SEED DIMITROV CRUISES AS TOP THREE SEEDS SUCCUMB TO SECOND ROUND DEFEATS

All four singles semifinals to be played on Centre Court tomorrow;
Two quarterfinals and one semifinal scheduled in tomorrow’s doubles draw

Playing his first match since making the US Open semifinals three weeks ago, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov did not disappoint as he defeated Briton Daniel Evans 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 39 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the Chengdu Open.

The 28-year-old’s quality display, featuring eight aces, was only blemished by a lone hiccup when he was serving for the match at 5-3 and hit two loose unforced errors to drop serve, but the former world No.3 recovered to break Evans on his second match point in the twelfth game of the match.

“It’s my first match since US Open and for sure I had a little bit of nerves and wanted to do well. I was just trying to do what I’ve built on in the past weeks. It was a really good win, I will take it in and prepare for the next one,” said the current world No. 26, who is aiming to win his first title since lifting the biggest trophy of his career at the 2017 ATP Finals in London.

In-form Belarussian Egor Gerasimov’s giant killing ways continued from St. Petersburg as the world No.98 notched his second win against a Top 20 player in two weeks. The 26-year-old reversed a one set deficit to knock top seeded American John Isner out of the draw with a 6-7(11), 7-6(5), 7-6(4) victory in a marathon two hours and 35 minutes on Centre Court.
Chengdu, September 25, 2019
EIGHTH SEED SHAPOVALOV AND SOUSA MAKE SECOND ROUND AS SIXTH SEED FRITZ FALLS TO BIG SERVING BUBLIK

Plenty of action tomorrow as eight second round singles along with four doubles matches slated for play

Exciting Canadian NextGen star Denis Shapovalov commenced his Chengdu Open 2019 campaign in fine form as he defeated Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis 6-4, 6-3 in 72 minutes to move into tomorrow’s second round of the singles draw.

The 20-year-old world No.34, who has two semifinal and three quarterfinal appearances under his belt this season, notched 16 aces and saved all nine break points he faced, while breaking his opponent once in each set to secure the victory.

Portuguese Joao Sousa is also through to the second round after overturning a one set deficit against Korean Hyeon Chung to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 39 minutes.

Chung started strongly in the first set, breaking all of Sousa’s three service games while only having his serve broken once in four games. However, the 23-year old seemed to lose focus in the second set as Sousa began adapting to the Centre Court conditions, notching three aces and converting both the break opportunities he fashioned to force a decider.

The third set was a closely fought affair in the first eight games, with Sousa saving two break points in his first service game and Chung saving five break points in his first two service games. The Portuguese finally made the breakthrough in the ninth game, converting the second of two break chances he had to set up the victory.
Chengdu, September 25, 2019
Chengdu, September 24, 2019
FIFTH SEED LAJOVIC, VERDASCO AND CARRENO BUSTA NOTCH FIRST ROUND WINS ON RAIN INTERRUPTED DAY

Remaining first round matches are scheduled for play tomorrow along with three doubles ties;
Sixth seed Fritz and eighth seed Shapovalov set to start campaigns

Players in the Chengdu Open 2019 had to endure a four-and-a-half-hour delay as intermittent light rain interrupted play on the courts of the Sichuan International Tennis Centre this afternoon.

Fifth seed Dusan Lajovic had already taken a one set lead against Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero on Court 2 before play was called off. After losing the second set, the Serb eventually notched a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory in one hour and 48 minutes of play to move into the second round of the Chengdu Open for the third time in four years.

“I feel good about my win. It wasn’t easy to play today because we had to go off the court many times because of the rain delay. In the second set I lost my focus a little bit and lost the set and had to wrap my head around that. But I’m happy that I had an early break in the third and another one which helped me because I lost my serve once. I feel good playing here in Chengdu. It’s a nice city, nice tournament, good organization and I enjoy coming back,” said the 29-year-old world No. 29, whose best result here came when he made the quarterfinals in 2017.

After a long wait to start play on Centre Court at 5.30pm, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco enjoyed a victorious debut here in Chengdu as he overcame a spirited second set fight back from Aussie NextGen Contender Alexei Popyrin to win 6-2, 7-5 in 78 minutes.
Chengdu, September 24, 2019
Chengdu, September 23, 2019
Chengdu, September 23, 2019
IN-FORM CHILEAN ACE GARIN SWEEPS PAST SEVENTH SEED EDMUND

Fifth seed Lajovic in first round action tomorrow as six singles and three doubles matches scheduled

The singles main draw got off to a rocking start this afternoon as Chilean number one Cristian Garin put on a stellar showing in his Chengdu Open debut to oust number seven seed Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-2 in 72 minutes on Centre Court.

Garin, who picked up his first two career titles on the clay courts of Houston and Munich this year, was the first to lose his serve in the third game set but bounced back quickly to break his British opponent in the fourth and sixth games to take the first set.

In the second set, Garin raced to a 4-0 lead with two early breaks before holding his serve to notch yet another impressive win in a season where he has defeated Alexander Zverev, John Isner and Diego Schwartzman.

“I think it’s my best match this year on hard court for sure. Kyle is a tough opponent to face in the first round so I’m very happy with the way I played,” said the 23-year-old.

The Santiago native started the match at No.33 in the rankings, just one behind the 24-year-old Edmund, and has a good chance of eclipsing his career high of No.32 (achieved in June this year) if he continues his fine form here.
Chengdu, September 23, 2019
Chengdu, September 22, 2019
NEXTGEN STAR POPYRIN OUSTS 2017 CHAMP ISTOMIN TO MAKE MAIN DRAW

Seventh seed Edmund in action on Centre Court as Main Draw gets underway tomorrow

The Chengdu Open continues its tradition of nurturing rising stars on the ATP Tour as highly rated Aussie Alexei Popyrin proved his mettle against 2017 Chengdu Open singles champion Denis Istomin to make the main draw of the tournament in his debut here.

The exciting twenty-year-old, who has been tipped by Aussie legend Pat Cash ‘to make it a long way’, stayed calm despite a second set fightback from his more experienced Uzbek opponent to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in one hour and 53 minutes on Centre Court.

The world No.91 NextGen contender is in the midst of a strong season on Tour, having reached his career high of No.87 just two months ago, and is fresh off making the US Open third round with wins over Federico Delbonis and Mikhail Kukushkin.

In the most intensely fought qualifying match contested today, Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak overturned a one set deficit to defeat Australian James Duckworth 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in one hour and 59 minutes on Court 1.

The duo both showcased great serving form today, racking up 22 aces each and winning 84% and 82% of their first serve games respectively. However, it was the world No.84 Majchrzak (career high) who got the all-important break in the third game of the final set and held out for the win.
Chengdu, September 21, 2019
SINGLES AND DOUBLES MAIN DRAW ANNOUNCED

Singles defending champion Tomic retires in first round qualifying match against 2017 champ Istomin

The 2019 Chengdu Open officially kicked off today with first round qualifying matches being contested on Court 1 and Court 2, and the main draw ceremony for the men’s singles held at the Sichuan International Tennis Stadium interactive area from 3pm onwards.

Top seeded American John Isner and third seeded Frenchman Benoit Paire, both of whom are making their debut in Chengdu this year, found themselves in the top half of the draw, while exciting Canadian youngster Felix Auger-Aliassime, the singles second seed, has fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov for company in the bottom half.

With the top four seeds receiving first round byes, attention will be focused on the remaining four seeds when first round action commences on Monday.

Serbia’s world No. 29 Dusan Lajovic, seeded fifth in the draw, will start his campaign with a first-time encounter against Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero, while sixth seeded American Taylor Fritz, who reached his career high of No.25 early last month, will also face a first-time opponent in the form of Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.
Chengdu, September 20, 2019
FINAL WILD CARDS ANNOUNCED AS EXCITING FOURTH
EDITION OF CHENGDU OPEN SET TO GET UNDERWAY

Singles Main Draw Ceremony will be held at 3pm tomorrow at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre

The Chengdu Open 2019 is back at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre for the fourth year running and is set to commence tomorrow with qualifying rounds being contested from 11am onwards and the singles main draw ceremony held live at the stadium form 3pm onwards.

South Korean Hyeon Chung, a former world No.19 ranked player and 2018 Australian Open semifinalist, has been announced as one of three wild cards in the singles draw, following the withdrawal of previously announced wild card Mikael Ymer of Sweden.

The 23-year-old Hyeon reached his career high in May last year in the midst of a breakout season where he made the quarterfinals or better at ten events. However, the Suwon native was out of action from 11 February through to 29 July of this year due to a back injury and saw his ranking fall to No.170, his lowest since 2014.

The Korean is now back on the rise after winning a Challenger in July right here in Chengdu and securing a five-game winning streak to make the third round of the US Open last month. His run from qualifying included an incredible rally from two sets down to oust world No.34 Fernando Verdasco in the second round.
Chengdu, September 16, 2019
WILD CARDS ANNOUNCED FOR CHENGDU OPEN AND INCLUDES US OPEN SEMIFINALIST

STRONG DOUBLES FIELD ALSO ANNOUNCED

The US$1,213,295 Chengdu Open, held from 21 to 29 September 2019 at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre, is very pleased to announce that the first two wild cards into the singles main draw have been awarded to recent US Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov and exciting young Swede Mikael Ymer.

“We are very happy to have Grigor and Mikael in the main draw for this year’s Chengdu Open,” Tournament Director Luiz Carvalho said. “Grigor’s run to the final four at the US Open was really fantastic with his five set quarterfinal win over Roger Federer really being one of the highlights matches of this year’s Open.

“Mikael is such a terrific prospect in men’s tennis. He is only 21 years old and has been enjoying great success on the Challenger Tour as he continues to build up his experience.

“Our doubles line-up is also interesting with a great combination of experienced players such as major winners and finalists like Ivan Dodig, Rohan Bopanna, Jonathan Erlich, Robert Lindstedt and Santiago Gonzalez along with young and exciting players like Denis Shapovalov, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Bublik.”

The last time Grigor Dimitrov played the Chengdu Open was in 2016 and he reached the semi-finals. A winner of eight career titles including the season-ending ATP Finals, the 28-year-old has previously reached a career high ranking of three. Earlier this year, he was a quarterfinalist in Brisbane and made the last 16 at the Australian Open but due to injuries his ranking slipped during the year to 78.
Chengdu, August 15, 2019
2019 CHENGDU OPEN
HIGHLIGHTS STRONGEST ENTRY CUT-OFF

The Asian Swing of tournaments on the ATP Tour is always an exciting time of the season. A different part of the world highlighting ancient cultures with different sounds and different cuisines, while the local fans remain just as enthusiastic as tennis fans in the sport’s more established markets.

Celebrating its fourth anniversary this year, the US$1,213,295 Chengdu Open is thrilled to be welcoming players from five continents and 13 different nations to the Sichuan International Tennis Centre from 21 to 29 September 2019. As always, the tournament will be going all out to make every guest feel as welcome and comfortable as possible.

The Chengdu Open will once again be the richest event during its designated week, while also this year boasting the strongest cut-off at No.56, not only in its own young history, but also on the tour during that week.

“This year’s Chengdu Open is shaping up to be another tremendous event,” Tournament Director Luiz Carvalho said. “We were excited to recently announce some of our marquee players – John Isner, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Grigor Dimitrov.

“Now our entire direct entry list shows that we have a fantastic line up of players. We have players who are enjoying their best seasons, like Taylor Fritz, Jordan Thompson and Dusan Lajovic, as well as so many exciting young talents such as Denis Shapovalov, Cristian Garin and Juan Ignacio Londero. There is a great mix of established players and developing talent and tennis fans in Chengdu are sure to enjoy the action that will be on show.”
Chengdu, July 24, 2019
4TH EDITION OF CHENGDU OPEN LAUNCHES;
GET READY FOR A SHOWCASE IN BIG SERVING AND BEAUTIFUL SHOT-MAKING

Marquee players Isner, Dimitrov and Auger-Aliassime Lead Early Entries

In 2016, the Chengdu Open became the newest stop on the worldwide tennis tour and very soon it became a favoured stop on the Asian Swing of the ATP tour. It is therefore with great expectation that tournament organisers have launched the fourth edition of the Chengdu Open, promising to treat the city to sensational tennis all over again in late September.

The leading city in the Sichuan Province of China, with its fantastic cuisine and attractions, Chengdu is thrilled to once again host the US$ 1,213,295 Chengdu Open, held from 21 to 29 September 2019 at the intimate and always welcoming Sichuan International Tennis Centre.

The tournament is proud to welcome an exciting mix of big names and rising talent to the event, along with all our loyal partners, sponsors and fans that have helped to put the tournament on the map.

Tournament director Luiz Carvalho returns to helm the ATP 250 Series event: “Last year it was with great pleasure and excitement that I made my debut as the Chengdu Open tournament director and it gives me a tremendous thrill to be back in 2019. This is a tournament with a relaxed feel, where players are comfortable, whether on-site or at the stunning hotel, which is one of the finest on tour.”