Hangzhou Open – Svrcina Stuns Berrettini

Czech lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina seized the spotlight with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 upset over eighth seed Matteo Berrettini in the opening round at Hangzhou. The 22-year-old showed poise throughout, striking 17 winners and saving the only break point he faced to close the match in just 85 minutes. Berrettini, competing in his first tournament in more than two months due to injury, struggled with rhythm and piled up 15 unforced errors. The result marks one of the tournament’s biggest early surprises and highlights the risk of backing high-profile players returning from layoffs. Explore how to bet tennis effectively.

Qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy added another upset by toppling defending champion Marin Cilic in three sets, rallying for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. The American’s energy and resilience wore down the Croatian veteran, who has struggled to regain consistency after injuries. Elsewhere, Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri dispatched China’s Fajing Sun 6-3, 6-2 with a steady baseline game, while Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry delivered a clean 6-2, 6-4 win over Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur. For bettors, early-round upsets at ATP 250 events like Hangzhou showcase the importance of evaluating player form and recovery status over name recognition. See US Open tennis betting tips for added insights.

Chengdu Open – Monfils Retires, Shevchenko Advances

The Chengdu Open saw a disappointing turn as French veteran Gael Monfils was forced to retire due to injury against Alexander Shevchenko. Monfils rolled his ankle late in the second set and, despite briefly continuing, was unable to finish. Shevchenko, who led 6-7 (3), 6-3, 1-0 at the time, showed sportsmanship by helping Monfils off the court and later described the 39-year-old as his “childhood hero.” The incident left the crowd stunned and raises questions about Monfils’ health moving forward. Bettors should note how physical wear on aging players can impact match outcomes, even when underdog odds appear long. Read about tennis betting strategies for tournaments.

Seeded players survived tougher tests elsewhere. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, the sixth seed, and Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, the eighth seed, both battled through three-set marathons to keep their campaigns alive. Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, and Japan’s Taro Daniel advanced in straight sets, while American qualifier MacKenzie McDonald outlasted Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The variety of results underscores how early rounds at ATP 250 events can produce both dominant wins and unpredictable battles.