Alexander Shevchenko moved into the next round of the Chengdu Open after Gael Monfils was forced to retire due to injury. The French veteran rolled his ankle in the second set, handing Shevchenko the victory in their ATP 250 clash.
Monfils Forced to Retire After Painful Fall
Gael Monfils, 39, started strong by taking the opening set 7-6(3). However, late in the second set, he suffered a painful ankle injury and was unable to continue after Shevchenko leveled the match at one set apiece.
The French star, who won his 13th ATP Tour title earlier this year in Auckland, has now suffered five straight defeats and holds an 18-15 record in 2025. The emotional exit was tough for both players, with Shevchenko calling Monfils his “childhood hero” and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Shevchenko Sets Clash with Mpetshi Perricard
This was Shevchenko’s debut at the Chengdu Open, and he now advances to face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round. The French youngster impressed by defeating Filip Misolic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, without facing a single break point in the final two sets.
The upcoming match promises to be a battle of power, with Shevchenko’s aggressive baseline game against Perricard’s big-serving style.
Prizmic Shines, Musetti Awaits
Elsewhere, rising star Dino Prizmic continued his strong form with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-3 win over Terence Atmane. The 20-year-old Croatian, currently fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, secured his place in the second round where he will face top seed Lorenzo Musetti.
Musetti, last year’s runner-up in Chengdu, is also eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and chasing qualification for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals. Their clash will be one of the highlights of the tournament’s early rounds.
Other Day 2 Winners in Chengdu
The action-packed day also saw victories for Lorenzo Sonego and Mackenzie McDonald. Eighth seed Sonego rallied past Juan Manuel Cerundolo 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while McDonald battled through to beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, improving his ATP Head2Head record against the Dutchman to 2-1.
Conclusion: Chengdu Open Heating Up
With Shevchenko advancing after Monfils’ unfortunate retirement, and young stars like Prizmic and Perricard making waves, the Chengdu Open is shaping into an exciting tournament. Fans can look forward to high-profile clashes, including Prizmic vs Musetti and Shevchenko vs Perricard, as the ATP 250 event progresses.
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