Damir Dzumhur has ended several long droughts during his unexpectedly successful second stint on the main tour in 2025. He recorded his first Grand Slam main-draw win since 2019, his first Masters main-draw win since 2021, and his first semifinal appearance on the main tour this decade. These milestones are not only satisfying personal achievements but also crucial in securing him more time on the main tour as he moves closer to re-entering the top 50.
In recent days, the Bosnian has been chasing his first win on the Asian swing since 2019, but it has continued to elude him. He competed in Hangzhou and Tokyo last month but was stopped in the first round on both occasions, losing to Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Aleksandar Vukic, respectively.
Securing a win at the Shanghai Masters this week would feel especially rewarding, as it would also mark his first main-draw victory at this Chinese Masters event. All three of his previous campaigns here ended in the first round, with the most recent loss coming against Gaël Monfils in 2024.
Christopher O’Connell, with all the experience he has gained from playing in East Asian Challenger events, has the potential to make this phase a season-defining stretch. Unfortunately, fitness issues a few months ago continue to affect his performance, resulting in inconsistent displays and results.
Still, the Aussie is fighting hard to make the most of this phase in a familiar region. He reached the semifinals at the Guangzhou 2 Challenger a few weeks ago before retiring against Alejandro Tabilo, and shortly after, he reached the quarterfinals in Hangzhou, only his second quarterfinal result on the main tour this year. However, he could not sustain that level, as he was outplayed by Botic van de Zandschulp in the recent Beijing qualifier.
Head-to-head: 0-0. Christopher O’Connell has better familiarity with Asian conditions, but lingering fitness concerns level the playing field, making this a 50-50 contest. The outcome will likely depend on who performs at their best on the day and seizes their opportunities.
