Top seed Lorenzo Musetti cruised past Alexander Schevchenko 6-3 6-1 in 65 minutes at the Chengdu Open to reach the seventh ATP Tour final of his career and the second of the season.
Musetti won 92% of his first serve points and did not face a break point. The Italian player did not convert two break points in the second game, but he broke serve in the sixth game to take sixth game and held on his next service games to win the first set 6-3. Musetti earned three break points to close out the second set 6-1.
Lorenzo Musetti: “I played my best match of the week. I am happy that I approached the tournament well. I liked my mental attitude. It was not easy against a player, who hit hard on the hard court. I came here to win the tournament.
Musetti is the first player in history to reach multiple finals in Chengdu. He lost to Shang Juncheng in last year’s title match. He is chasing his first title since Neaples 2022.
Musetti is aming to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. He is currently seventh in the ATP Race to Turin.
Musetti set up a final against qualifier Alejandro Tabilo, who Brandon Nakashima 6-4 7-6 (7-0).
Tabilo won two titles in Auckland and Mallorca last year. He holds a record of 5 wins to 13 defeats this year on the ATP Tour.
Tabilo broke in the fifth game of the first set and served out with a hold at 15. Both players held on their service games in the second set en route to the tie-break. Tabilo earned three mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-0.
Alejandro Tabilo: “I think it was very solid throughout the whole match. He served well, so I had to stay there and wait. I started off well today, served well and I am happy with the performance. It has been up and down, a few months out as well, so just so happy to be back in another final.”
