Beijing, Sep 26 (NationPress) Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, and Jakub Mensik, all vying for a spot in the season finale, bolstered their chances with vital victories at the China Open in Beijing on Friday.

De Minaur solidified his eighth position in the ATP Live Race To Turin by overcoming local favorite Buyunchaokete; the #NextGenATP talent from the Czech Republic, Jakub Mensik, advanced to 18th place in the Live Race by triumphing over Miomir Kecmanovic, while Zverev confirmed his place in the second round with a straight-sets victory against Lorenzo Sonego.

The Australian third seed, Alex de Minaur, comfortably progressed to the second round after defeating China’s Bu Yunchaokete 6-4, 6-0 at the Diamond Court of the National Tennis Centre. With an impressive 32 hard court wins this season, he aims to secure his second appearance at the ATP Finals, having made his debut in 2024.

De Minaur claimed the opening set following an early break in the fifth game. The world No. 8 maintained his composure under pressure in the 10th game, firing an ace at 30-all and capitalizing on an error from Bu to wrap up the set 6-4.

The 26-year-old raised his game in the second set, quickly winning six consecutive games to clinch the match. He recorded a total of 10 aces, doubling Bu’s tally, and faced only one break point, which he successfully defended.

"I knew I had to come out strong from the very first point, and my goal is to keep that energy up," De Minaur stated. "I want to finish the year on a high note as I focus on Turin. Extensive recovery and dedication have allowed me to perform well today."

This match was their third encounter this year, with De Minaur winning their previous matches in Miami and Washington. Bu, currently ranked world No. 89, is the highest-ranked Chinese player in singles. "I didn’t experience any physical issues, but my emotions fluctuated after losing the first game," Bu reflected. "I struggled to adjust, which significantly impacted my performance."

Analyzing his overall performance, the 23-year-old accepted his play in the first set but expressed disappointment over his emotional control later on. "In the first set, I had some chances and played under pressure, which I can accept. In the second set, my opponent elevated his game, and I failed to manage the pressure, causing a rapid decline in my performance," Bu stated.

Next, De Minaur faces France's Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated David Goffin in straight sets. The Australian has had a successful season, winning the Washington Open and reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open. He is also focused on qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.

Mensik climbed to 18th in the Live Race after winning against Miomir Kecmanovic with a score of 7-5, 6-4. Although he is still 1,115 points behind De Minaur in the qualification standings, the 20-year-old remains optimistic as the ATP Tour season nears its conclusion on hard courts.

Mensik is set for a second-round match against qualifier Arthur Cazaux, who overcame wild card Shang Juncheng in a dramatic comeback 0-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Zverev advanced to the second round by defeating Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3, marking a 6-0 record in their ATP head-to-head encounters. The two-time ATP Finals champion now ranks third in the Live Race and has made it to the Beijing semifinals in three of his last four main draw appearances.

His next opponent will be Corentin Moutet, who followed up his semifinal run in Hangzhou by defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5. The unpredictable Frenchman currently holds a career-high ranking of No. 37 in the ATP Rankings and has achieved 26 tour-level victories this year, just two wins shy of doubling his previous best of 14 wins from 2022.

After clinching his fourth title of the season in Hangzhou last week, Alexander Bublik climbed three spots to 12th in the ATP Live Race To Turin. Yet, he couldn't maintain his momentum in his opening match in Beijing, falling to Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2.