CHENGDU, September 17, 2025 (Press Release)
It was a thrilling night for local fans at the Chengdu Open as both Chinese wild cards in first-round action, Shang Juncheng and Zhou Yi, produced stunning upset victories over higher ranked opponents on the Center Court of the Sichuan International Tennis Centre.
Defending champion Shang Juncheng, sidelined for much of the season with injury, announced his return to form with a commanding 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over world No.46 Zizou Bergs in two hours and 10 minutes. The 20-year-old Shang, whose ranking has dropped to No.138 from a career-high of No.47 achieved last October, saved six of seven break points and converted three of five to record his first match win since undergoing foot surgery in March.
The defending champion is BACK
Fit again Jerry Shang claims his first victory since January!@ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/O6OZxeZL7M
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 17, 2025
“It’s never easy coming back from surgery – your body feels completely different, and rehab was really tough. I couldn’t wait to get back on court. If I had to choose the timing for my comeback and to feel fully healthy again, I’d pick this tournament. Chengdu means a lot to me, and I just love being back in a home environment where I feel so supported. I’m really happy to be here and to win my first match,” said Shang.
Earlier in the evening, Center Court fans were treated to a performance of pure magic from 20-year-old world No.304 Zhou Yi, who staged a remarkable comeback to oust fifth seed and world No.34 Cameron Norrie. Zhou rallied from a set down and saved a match point to secure a thrilling 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(2) win in two hours and 44 minutes.
The six-foot-four youngster fired 22 aces and maintained composure in crucial moments, saving six of the seven break points he faced. Most notably, he fended off three consecutive break points in the final game of the second set to force a decider, and then saved a match point at 5-4 in the final set to take the encounter to a tie-break.
The win represents a career milestone for Zhou—his first victory against a Top 50 opponent, his first ATP Tour win of the season, and only the third ATP Tour-level main draw win of his career.
“To be honest, I was very nervous (at those critical moments). But I knew I had improved a lot throughout the year, and I could feel the support from my team and the fans. Even when facing break points, deep down a part of me was telling me I wasn’t going to lose right now – I believed I could get through it and try to beat him. This victory shows that our work is paying off, and even though my ranking is low, we are a high-level team. We want to keep improving, and hopefully we can win again,” said Zhou after the match.
In other first round matches, American Marcos Giron overcame a spirited challenge from compatriot Ethan Quinn, winning 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 30 minutes. The 32-year-old fired nine aces, saved the only break point he faced in the tenth game of the first set, and converted two of four break opportunities to secure victory against the 21-year-old.
Aussie Christopher O’Connell, making his third consecutive appearance in Chengdu, highlighted by a quarterfinal run in 2023, also made a winning start, reversing a one set deficit to record a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 win over Frenchman Quentin Halys in two hours and 11 minutes.
