After getting byes in their opening rounds, No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi and No. 4 seed Brandon Nakashima are starting their ATP Chengdu Open campaigns on Friday. They might not be feeling too confident as the opposition is dangerous, especially with the latter player facing defending champion Juncheng Shang. Who do you think will come out on top?
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ATP Chengdu Day 3 Predictions
Lorenzo Sonego vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: Sonego 1-0
Both players haven’t been posting too many wins recently; for one of them, making the quarterfinals will be a vital result. Lorenzo Sonego made his career-best Grand Slam run at the Australian Open this year, but has been a mess ever since. That said, the quick conditions in Chengdu could help him deliver the firepower necessary to put Marcos Giron away. It should be a difficult encounter either way, as neither looks convincing or confident on the court at this point in time.
Prediction: Sonego in 3
Yi Zhou vs Christopher O’Connell
Head-to-head: First meeting
Despite making his first Challenger final this year, Yi Zhou is still losing in so many opening rounds on the circuit and hasn’t made the progress everybody predicted for him. And yet, the Chinese thrives at home in the Asian Swing with quality matches against top opponents every season. That includes saving a match point in the opening round against Cameron Norrie. With Christopher O’Connell’s fitness being under a question mark recently (he even retired in Guangzhou semifinals last week), maybe the story continues?
Prediction: Zhou in 3
Alejandro Tabilo vs Luciano Darderi
Head-to-head: 2-2
Luciano Darderi has already claimed three ATP Tour titles this year (along with his Cordoba trophy from 2024), but his game outside clay still needs some work. One of his best hard-court wins to date came against Alejandro Tabilo in Cincinnati last year. While the Italian has some tools that will potentially help him out in quicker conditions going forward, the application is still lacking. Even despite that most recent result between them, Tabilo is the more likely winner here, having grown up on the surface when he was residing in Canada.
Prediction: Tabilo in 2
Juncheng Shang vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: First meeting
Juncheng Shang claimed his maiden ATP Tour title at this event last year, but is just making his return after six months out due to foot injury. The win over Zizou Bergs was his first since reaching Hong Kong semifinals in the opening week of the season. It’s a little out there, but who says his run can’t continue if the body holds up? Brandon Nakashima’s got a very high floor, but the ceiling isn’t extraordinary. Last year, Shang was utilizing the altitude in Chengdu so well to get pop on his strokes that he doesn’t usually possess.
Prediction: Shang in 3
USA TODAY NETWORK
