ATP Tour – Asian Swing

After a pause that spanned three years, the exciting ATP Asian Swing is set to make its much-anticipated return with the Chengdu Open 2023. This thrilling tournament is scheduled to unfold from September 20th to 26th, 2023, right in the heart of Chengdu at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in the Shuangliu province.

The Grand Draw Ceremony

The event kicked off in grand style with the main draw ceremony. This special occasion was graced by key figures in the tennis world, including ATP Supervisor Hans-Juergen Ochs, ATP Tour Manager Arnau Brugues, Tournament Director Luiz Carvalho, and Bai Lei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Sichuan Investment International Tennis Center Development Co. Ltd.

A Star-Studded Lineup

The main draw of the tournament features an array of tennis talent, with three remarkable players ranked within the world’s top 20. Leading the pack is the formidable German, Alexander Zverev, currently ranked No. 10 in the world. Italy’s young sensation Lorenzo Musetti, holding the No. 18 spot, has secured the second seed. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, occupying the 20th spot, is the third seed, and Great Britain’s Daniel Evans, ranked at No. 27, is the fourth seed.

An Exciting Rivalry Renewed

The draw brings forth an exciting prospect as former world No. 2 Zverev and former world No. 3 Dimitrov once again find themselves in the same half. These two tennis titans have crossed racquets three times on the tour this year alone. Their most recent encounters took place in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters in August and the quarterfinals of the US Open earlier this month, with Zverev emerging victorious on both occasions.

More Seeds and Intriguing Duels

The fifth seed is Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, positioned at world No. 29. He faces a formidable challenge in the first round in this open tennis tournament against American Marcos Giron, with their head-to-head history favoring Giron, who has won two out of their three past meetings.

Max Purcell, the sixth seed from Australia, commences his campaign against compatriot Jordan Thompson. The duo has already squared off twice this year, with Thompson prevailing at the Gwangju Open Challenger and Purcell exacting revenge at the French Open a few weeks later.

Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, holding the seventh seed and ranked world No. 47, begins his journey against a qualifier. On the other hand, eighth-seeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic, recently reaching his career-high ranking of No. 48 in August, takes on Japan’s Taro Daniel in their first-ever meeting in the opening round.

Wild Cards and Homegrown Talent

Adding a dash of excitement are the singles wild card recipients. Zizou Bergs from Belgium drew a tough first-round opponent in Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. Bergs, just 24 years old and world No. 172, expressed his enthusiasm for this opportunity and looks forward to proving himself on the court.

Two additional singles main draw wild cards were bestowed upon local talents. Twenty-three-year-old Mu Tao, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 509 in June this year, makes his ATP Tour level debut against France’s Corentin Moutet. Cui Jie, 25 years old and world No. 528, goes head-to-head with Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas in the first round.

Doubles Action

Doubles enthusiasts also have plenty to look forward to. The French top seeds, Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, kick off their campaign against the Dutch pair Robin Haase and Bart Stevens. The second-seeded Portuguese-Brazilian duo of Francisco Cabral and Rafael Matos is set to face the Aussie pairing of Christopher O’Connell and Aleksander Vukic in their opening match.

The Return of Asian Tennis

Tournament Director Luiz Carvalho expressed his elation at the Chengdu Open’s return, heralding it as the first event of the Asian Swing. He emphasized the opportunity to showcase world-class tennis to Chengdu’s devoted fans, who have eagerly awaited this moment. The strong draw featuring top-quality players sets the stage for an electrifying week of tennis.

Djokovic’s Future Plans

While the Asian Swing promises thrilling tennis, one prominent name missing from the lineup is Novak Djokovic. The Serbian tennis legend has opted to skip these tournaments as he charts his path for the remainder of 2023. His focus remains on claiming a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic, despite his absence from this swing, continues to have significant goals, including a seventh Paris Bercy Masters title, a record seventh ATP Finals crown, and a determined pursuit of the Davis Cup.

A Glimpse Ahead

As the ATP Asian Swing unfolds, fans are in for a captivating week of tennis action at the Chengdu Open 2023. The return of this event to the Asian tennis calendar promises a memorable showcase of talent, fierce competition, and thrilling matches in the heart of Chengdu.