ATP Chengdu: Shang Junchen Successfully Defends Title in Opening Match, Zhou Yi Upsets Norrie

On September 17, 2025, the ATP250 Chengdu tournament began its men’s singles main draw first round, with both Shang Junchen and Zhou Yi advancing smoothly today.

Shang Junchen

As the defending champion, Shang Junchen kicked off his China season in Chengdu but had been sidelined for most of the season due to injury. Today, after 2 hours and 10 minutes, he defeated world No.46 Berrettini 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, powerfully announcing his return to form. He saved 6 of 7 break points and converted 3 of 5 break opportunities, securing his first match win since undergoing foot surgery in March this year.

Last year, Shang Junchen won his first ATP Tour singles title in Chengdu and currently holds a perfect 6-0 record at this venue. In the second round, he will face the 4th seed Brandon Nakashima, aiming to maintain his unbeaten streak here.

After the match, Shang Junchen said: “Coming back after surgery is never easy — my body feels completely different, and the recovery was extremely tough. I’ve been eager to return to the court. If I could choose the timing to come back fully healthy, I would definitely pick this tournament. Chengdu means a lot to me, and I love being back in this supportive home atmosphere. Winning my comeback match here makes me truly happy.”

Zhou Yi

Earlier on court, Zhou Yi staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the 5th seed and world No.34 Norrie. After dropping the first set, Zhou fought back fiercely and saved a match point, eventually winning 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(2) in 2 hours and 44 minutes. He fired 22 aces throughout the match and stayed composed during crucial points. His most thrilling moment came in the last game of the second set, where he saved three break points to push the match to a decider; later, facing a match point down at 4-5 in the final set, he held his nerve to force a tiebreak and ultimately clinched victory.

This marks Zhou Yi’s first career win over a top 50 player and only his third ATP Tour main draw singles victory (excluding Davis Cup). He has now reached the round of 16 in Chengdu for two consecutive years. Next, he will compete against O’Connell for a quarterfinal spot, with O’Connell having beaten Alcaraz 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4.

After the match, Zhou Yi admitted: “Honestly, I was very nervous at those key moments. But I know I’ve improved a lot this year and feel the support from my team and fans. Even when facing break points, a voice inside told me ‘you can’t lose now’ — I believed I could get through and had a chance to beat him. This win shows our hard work has paid off. Although my ranking isn’t high, our team’s level is top-notch. We will keep working hard and hope to keep winning.”

(Written and edited by: Dato, Photos: Tournament provided)