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Quarterfinal spots at the Chengdu ATP 250 will be handed out on Friday, when No. 3 seed Alejandro Tabilo continues his campaign against Adrian Mannarino. Jenson Brooksby and Lorenzo Sonego are also on the order of play.
(3) Alejandro Tabilo vs. Adrian Mannarino
It will be an all-lefty showdown when Tabilo and Mannarino go head-to-head for the first time in their careers during second-round action at the Chengdu Open on Friday. Mannarino crushed the hopes of the host nation when he dismissed 2024 champion Jerry Shang 7-6(9), 6-2 on Thursday. That is ideal preparation for another showdown against a fellow left-hander, and the 38-year-old Frenchman can be especially dangerous when he builds some confidence.
Tabilo is making a quick turnaround on the heels of Davis Cup duty for Chile this past weekend. The world No. 32 lost to Spain’s Daniel Merida 5-6, 6-3, 6-3 on the red clay of Santiago as the visiting Spaniards punched their ticket to the finals. Tabilo’s hard-court summer was relatively productive, but this is his first match on the Asian swing and his travel schedule following a Davis Cup appearance is not ideal.
Pick: Mannarino in 3
Jenson Brooksby vs. Lorenzo Sonego
Brooksby and Sonego will also be squaring off for the first time in their careers following respective opening-round victories in Chengdu. After Brooksby beat Sebastian Baez 7-5, 7-5 on Wednesday, Sonego defeated James Duckworth 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday.
Sonego fell to eventual U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev in a five-setter thriller in the first round and then randomly played a clay-court Challenger event in Italy and lost right away to world No. 207 Francesco Passaro. The fact that they have never faced each other before may be a slight advantage for Brooksby simply because his game style is so unique.
Pick: Brooksby in 3
