Move FM Australian News

(Photo credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo advanced to the quarterfinals at the Chengdu Open by cruising past Italian No. 2 seed Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-3 on Friday in China.

Tabilo, who’s fallen outside the top 100 in the world rankings after rising as high as No. 19, smashed 12 aces with only one double fault, went 4-for-4 saving break points and converted both his opportunities to break Darderi’s serve.

Another big winner was No. 4 seed Brandon Nakashima, who ousted defending champion Juncheng Shang of China 7-5, 6-3. Nakashima will meet fellow American Marcos Giron in the next round after Giron eliminated No. 8 seed Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 6-4, 6-4. Tabilo will face Aussie Christopher O’Connell, a 6-2, 6-4 victor over China’s Yi Zhou.

Lynx & Co Hangzhou Open

Elsewhere in China, Sebastian Korda sent a whopping 20 aces past Australia’s Adam Walton in a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the Round of 32.

The full Round of 16 is now set after Friday’s action, which also saw 2024 runner-up Zhizhen Zhang get past Yunchaokete Bu 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (3) in an all-Chinese showdown.

Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata upset No. 5 seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina 7-6 (2), 6-4. Other winners included Frenchmen Arthur Cazaux and Valentin Royer and Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.

–Field Level Media