Chengdu Open – Shang Starts Title Defense

China’s Juncheng Shang made a winning return in Chengdu, capturing his first ATP victory since foot surgery in March. The defending champion showed resilience, saving six of seven break points and battling past Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Shang, who last year became the first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour title on home soil, will next face No. 4 seed Brandon Nakashima. His strong start suggests he could be a factor again in front of the home crowd. Learn more about tennis betting tips and strategies.

Elsewhere in the first round, China’s Yi Zhou staged a gutsy rally to upset fifth seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain. Zhou fell behind after dropping a tight opening-set tiebreak but rebounded for a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (2) win, thrilling the home fans. Australia’s Christopher O’Connell also advanced with a hard-fought 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 win over France’s Quentin Halys, while American Marcos Giron outlasted countryman Ethan Quinn in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. For bettors, these early upsets highlight the volatility of ATP 250 tournaments, where lower-ranked players often make deep runs. Check out US Open tennis tips for betting success.

Hangzhou Open – Tien Rallies Through

At the Hangzhou Open, American teenager Learner Tien continued to showcase his promise on the ATP stage. The No. 7 seed overcame nine of 13 break points faced and clawed back from a 3-1 deficit in the final set to edge Argentina’s Mariano Navone 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The two-hour, 23-minute battle earned Tien a second-round matchup with either Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri or China’s Fajing Sun. For bettors, rising stars like Tien present opportunities in value markets when matched against more established names. Get insights on betting strategies for tennis tournaments.

China’s Wu Yibing capped the day with one of his best wins of the season, toppling sixth-seeded French veteran Adrian Mannarino in a marathon 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 contest. The match lasted nearly three hours and featured clutch shot-making from Wu, who thrilled local fans with his late-set poise. His upset underscores how home-court advantage can play a role in tennis betting, particularly in closely priced matches. Explore more tennis betting insights here.