Alejandro Davidovich advanced to the semifinals of the Chengdu Open on Sunday after defeating French qualifier Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-5, capping a dominant performance on hard courts in China that confirms his full recovery from a back injury.
A Commanding Quarterfinal Victory in Chengdu
Competing as the tournament’s second seed and ranked No. 29 in the ATP rankings, Davidovich needed just over an hour and a quarter to dispatch Muller, who entered the main draw via the qualifying rounds. The Spanish player controlled the opening set with an emphatic 5-0 start, ultimately closing out the frame before winning a more competitive second set. Breaking Muller in the 11th game allowed the Fuengirola native to secure the match on his own serve without facing a single break point during the contest.
Overcoming a 72-Day Injury Layoff
The semifinal run marks a significant milestone for Davidovich following a challenging summer disrupted by back problems. The 27-year-old was forced into a 72-day competitive break that ruled him out of Estoril, the ATP Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati, the US Open, and Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile. Prior to his arrival in Chengdu, his last notable appearances included reaching the final four in Adelaide and capturing his first title as a professional in Mallorca earlier in the season.
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Next Challenge Against Nikoloz Basilashvili
Davidovich will face Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in Monday’s semifinals. Basilashvili advanced to the penultimate round by defeating American player Jenson Brooksby in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(4). Monday’s matchup marks the second meeting for Davidovich against a qualifier in Chengdu and serves as a rematch of their sole prior encounter at the 2021 Metz tournament, where the Georgian prevailed in the round of 16.
Worth a look
