5 shocking results of the day from China Open & Japan Open ft. Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz biting the dust
With action underway both at the China Open and Japan Open featuring stars like Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, tennis fans have plenty to look forward to this fortnight. Thursday (September 26), however, was not a good day for big names.
While both Fritz and Tiafoe failed to carry the momentum from the US Open into the Asian swing, losing in the first round, a few others also fell prey to upsets.
There were quite a few surprising results across the board at the two ATP 500 events. Here, we unfold what went down at the China Open and Japan Open on Thursday:
#5 Alexander Bublik (China Open)
Alexander Bublik was the only seeded player to have exited on the opening day of the China Open. He was shown the door by Flavio Cobolli.
The topsy-turvy contest saw Bublik start off strong to take the first set 6-4. His opponent, however, stepped up his game to outclass the more fancied opponent 1-6 in the second set.
Both men began to play at a high level in the decider which was pushed to a tiebreaker, but it was the underdog who managed to come through. He broke Bublik on three occasions in a match otherwise dominated by serve.
#4 Casper Ruud (Japan Open)
Casper Ruud’s dismal run of form continued as he made a first-round exit at the Japan Open, losing to Jordan Thompson in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-1.
The Norwegian has now fallen in the first few rounds in all but one tournament that he has played in since the French Open way back in June.
Ruud looked off-color for most of the match, failing to make an impact with his usually dependable first serve. His opponent, in contrast, fired 14 aces and went from strength to strength to post a big win for himself.
#3 Stefanos Tsitsipas (Japan Open)
Another former top-10 player who is struggling for form, Stefanos Tsitsipas, also failed to turn over a new leaf in Tokyo and exited the Japan Open on the first hurdle.
Much like Ruud, Tsitsipas’ fortunes have also gone south since the French Open, with him making it past the second round only at the Swiss Open since. He faced a tricky opponent in the form of an in-form Alex Michelsen but was still expected to come through.
The American, however, had other plans. Having already won a few matches in the qualifiers, Michelsen was accustomed to the conditions and it showed in his confidence. He was solid on serve (winning 70% of his points behind the first delivery as compared to his opponent’s 53%) and was clinical on the break chances, taking all five that came his way to seal a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win.
#2 Frances Tiafoe (Japan Open)
Frances Tiafoe’s run to a second US Open semifinal in three years just a few weeks ago inspired plenty of confidence in his abilities to bounce back from an underwhelming 2024 season.
That confidence, however, did not reflect in his performance during the Japan Open first-round encounter against compatriot Brandon Nakashima.
Nakashima, three years Tiafoe’s junior, played the more mature game on Thursday. He was solid in all departments, winning a higher percentage of points on serve (72% compared to his opponent’s 66%) and creating more chances to break (seven to his opponent’s one). The measured performance saw him dismiss Tiafoe 7-5, 6-3.
#1 Taylor Fritz (Japan Open)
Even with seeded players falling left, right and center, nobody would have expected top seed Taylor Fritz, who had come into the tournament just having made his maiden Grand Slam final, to go out in the opening round to Arthur Fils.
The American did not play a particularly poor match but was simply lackluster when it mattered the most.
The 15 aces notwithstanding, his game allowed his opponent to take control of the contest right off the bat. Fritz did well to fight back after dropping the first set but his French opponent was too determined to let go of the opportunity to get a big scalp. Fils went into crunch mode in the deciding set, protecting his serve and securing the decisive break of serve to wrap up the contest 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.