Davidovich targets a second title of the season in Chengdu

Davidovich will seek a second title of the season in Chengdu on Tuesday, when he plays the final of the Chinese Open 250. The grass-court champion in Mallorca in June, he secured his place in the title match by recovering from a set down against Georgia’s Basilashvili.

Spanish men’s tennis has won five titles this season: two through Carlos Alcaraz, and one each through Alejandro Davidovich, Rafa Jódar and Dani Mérida. With Davidovich in the final, it will therefore bid for a sixth crown in 2026 on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old from Malaga has made an impressive return to the circuit after a 72-day lay-off caused by a back injury. He is the third Spanish player to reach this stage of the Chengdu tournament, after Albert Ramos in 2016 and Pablo Carreño in 2019.

Against Basilashvili, ranked 121st in the ATP standings and through qualifying, Davidovich had to overturn a difficult situation. The Georgian, who has five professional titles, at times rediscovered his best level and took the opening set. Pepo Clavet’s pupil eventually prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

It is Davidovich’s seventh final and his second of the season after the one he won at the Mallorca Championships. His three victories at the start of the Asian swing take him to 1,845 points and 26th place in the rankings, ahead of Alexander Blockx and Karen Khachanov.

In Tuesday’s final, he will face the winner of the second semi-final between Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov.