Alexander Shevchenko’s progress in Chengdu after the retirement of “Childhood Hero” Gael Monfils | ATP Journey
Chengdu
After Monphelis retired, Sheshenko made progress in Chengdu
#nextgenatp prizmic, mpetshi Perricard is also on Chinese ATP 250
September 18, 2025
Chengdu opens
Alexander Shevchenko will debut this week at the Chengdu Open.
By ATP staff
Gael Monfils cut a frustrated number Thursday after a painful fall, forcing him to retire at the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Open’s Alexander Shevchenko.
The 39-year-old Frenchman played in the first set, rolled up his ankles late in the second set, and once it was obvious, he couldn’t continue. After Shevchenko upgraded the game, Monfils retired 7-6 (3), 3-6, 0-1.
Watch the moment that led to Monphelis’ retirement:
“I love every second of the game and I really don’t want to end like that,” Shevchenko said, helping Monfils after he fell. “He is my childhood hero and I really like watching him and I hope he can recover quickly. He is incredible and there are a lot of people looking up to him.”
Monfils won his 13th ATP Tour in Auckland in January and supported it in the Australian’s fourth round. However, according to Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, the world’s No. 52 has now failed five times in a row and has a record of 18-15 in 2025.
Shevchenko made her debut in the China ATP 250 event, followed by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who played the big service, who didn’t encounter a breakout point in the second and third sets of Filip Misolic 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4.
Earlier, #NextGenAtp star Dino Prizmic surpassed Terence Atmane with a 6-4, 6-3 record in the Frenchman’s debut since last month’s break to the Cincinnati semifinals. Prizmic, 20, is ranked fourth in the PIF ATP live game and is playing in Chengdu through the next-generation accelerator that provides 20-year-old players with the opportunity to play on the ATP Tour.
Prizmic held a second round meeting with Top Seed and last year’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti, who ranked eighth in the PIF ATP live competition, aiming to strengthen his push to qualify for the Nitto ATP finals.
Other winners in Chengdu the next day included the eighth seed Lorenzo Sonego and qualifiers Mackenzie McDonald, who both won the decision-making victory. Sonego passed Juan Manuel Cerundolo 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while McDonald’s won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to improve to 2-1 in its Lexus ATP Head2head series.
