Defending champion Alejandro Tabilo opens his title defence against Adrian Mannarino in an all left-handed second round match.
Tabilo has a strong connection with this event. He won the title here last year, beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 in the final, and as the third seed he had a first round bye to settle into conditions.
Mannarino already has a match under his belt after a 7-6, 6-2 win over home wildcard Juncheng Shang, the 2024 Chengdu champion. Beating Shang in front of his home crowd was a quality result, and the Frenchman's flat, low strokes and early ball striking make him awkward for anyone on a hard court.
Tabilo has the bigger game, with more power off the forehand and a heavier serve. Mannarino will try to take time away and keep points short and low, which can frustrate players who like to swing freely. Lefty against lefty also removes some of the usual angles each man relies on.
Match rhythm favours Mannarino early, but Tabilo's firepower and comfort in Chengdu should carry him through.
**Prediction: Tabilo in three sets. Confidence: medium.**