The Chengdu Open witnessed compelling matchups, setting the stage for tennis enthusiasts around the world. Notably, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov caught significant attention with their stellar performances.
Facing off against Pavel Kotov, top-seeded Zverev found himself in a tight contest. The hard-court ATP 250 event in Chengdu put Zverev’s resilience to the test. With both players pulling out all stops, it was Zverev’s powerful first serve that made the difference.
Zverev managed to edge out a victory with a final scoreline of 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1 in a game that stretched for over two hours.
The match stats provide a clear insight into how Zverev used his serve as a weapon:
| Statistic | Zverev | Kotov |
| Aces | 8 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 5 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 63% | 65% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 86% (43/50) | 73% (48/66) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 57% (17/30) | 47% (17/36) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (1/2) | 50% (3/6) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 27% (18/66) | 14% (7/50) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 53% (19/36) | 43% (13/30) |
| Break Points Converted | 50% (3/6) | 50% (1/2) |
| Winners | 36 | 32 |
| Unforced Errors | 7 | 8 |
| Net Points Won | 59% (10/17) | 100% (7/7) |
| Max Points In Row | 6 | 6 |
| Service Points Won | 75% (60/80) | 64% (65/102) |
| Return Points Won | 36% (37/102) | 25% (20/80) |
| Total Points Won | 53% (97/182) | 47% (85/182) |
| Max Games In Row | 6 | 3 |
| Service Games Won | 93% (13/14) | 80% (12/15) |
| Return Games Won | 20% (3/15) | 7% (1/14) |
| Total Games Won | 55% (16/29) | 45% (13/29) |
“The best players in the world find a way to win when they’re not playing great, and today I definitely was far away from playing great,” said Zverev. “In the end I won and that’s the most important thing. I am still in the tournament.”
This impressive victory marked Zverev’s Chengdu debut and ensured his progress to his ninth tour-level quarter-final of the year.
Zverev Looks Forward to More Action in China
Zverev’s association with Chinese tournaments goes back in time. While he’s yet to secure a title in China, he did make it to the championship match at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in 2019.
With tennis making a return to China after a considerable hiatus, Zverev expressed his enthusiasm:
“I think the Chinese fans have missed tennis,” said Zverev. “We haven’t been here in four years. It’s been a very long time for everybody. I enjoy playing here, I enjoy coming back to China. Historically I played quite OK here and I can hopefully keep that streak going.”
Following the Chengdu face-off, Zverev’s position improved in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. With a two-time championship at the Nitto ATP Finals, he’s undoubtedly keen to make his mark once more.
Dimitrov’s Milestone Moment
The Chengdu Open had more stories to tell. Another highlight was Grigor Dimitrov reaching a monumental 400th tour-level win. Dimitrov showcased a masterclass, outplaying Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-4, making his way to the quarter-finals.
Dimitrov’s journey to this milestone began with his first ATP Tour event victory in Rotterdam in 2009 against Tomas Berdych. Since then, he has been a force to reckon with:
- Career-high No. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
- Eight tour-level titles to his name.
As Dimitrov marches forward, he will be facing Christopher O’Connell in his quest for his first title of the current season. Given his impressive performance this year, which included reaching the final in Geneva, he remains a player to watch.
Other Noteworthy Matches
Lorenzo Musetti, the second seed, showcased his mettle in a grueling match against Australian Philip Sekulic. Battling it out for almost three hours, Musetti managed to pull off a victory with scores 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-0, marking his first quarter-final on hard courts this year.
Up next for Musetti is a showdown with Arthur Rinderknech, who secured his spot by defeating Marcos Giron 7-6(2), 6-4.
