5 shocking results of the day from China Open & Shanghai Masters ft. Aryna Sabalenka, Felix Auger-Aliassime
Aryna Sabalenka was among the casualties in today's tennis action at the China Open and the Shanghai Masters. The women's tournament at the China Open is gradually reaching its end, with the four semifinalists being decided, while the second round started at the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai.
In Beijing, Zheng Qinwen booked her place in the semifinals with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 win over 17th sed Mirra Andreeva. A number of seeded players were in action at the Shanghai Masters, with Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas all booking their spots in the third round with wins over Thiago Seyboth Wild, Denis Shapovalov and Kei Nishikori, respectively.
However, both tournaments saw a few instances of highly-favored players losing to relatively unheralded opponents. On that note, let us take a look at five shocking results from Day 3 of the Shanghai Masters and Day 10 of the women's competition at the China Open.
#5. Sebastian Baez
22nd seed Sebastian Baez exited the Shanghai Masters after losing his opening match. The Argentine's seeding saw him receive a walkover to the second round of the Masters 1000 event, where he faced Gael Monfils.
The Frenchman got off to a strong start as he was a set and a break up. Baez fought back to win the second set and force the match into a decider. Both players exchanged breaks early in the third set before Monfils broke the Argentine's serve in the ninth game.
The Frenchman then held his serve to reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters for the first time since 2016.
#4. Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud suffered his second successive defeat after losing to Aleksandar Vukic in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. The Norwegian entered the Masters 1000 tournament after losing in the first round of the Japan Open.
Ruud received a walkover to the second round in Shanghai because he was the eighth seed. Here, the 25-year-old locked horns with Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic, who beat Corentin Moutet in the first round. While Ruud hasn't been in the best of forms lately, many would have expected him to come out on top.
Vukic made the only break of the first set and won it 6-4 to take the lead in the match. The Aussie made an early break in the second seed and Ruud tried hard to bounce back, notably in the eighth game, when he had three break points. However, the Norwegian was unable to convert any of them and Vukic won 6-4, 6-4 to book his place in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
#3. Felix Auger-Aliassime
18th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime entered the Shanghai Masters after helping Canada reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup. Like other seeded players, the 24-year-old also received a walkover to the second round. Here, he faced Frenchman Alexandre Muller, who had come back from a set down to beat Luca Nardi.
The Canadian had a break point early in the opening set but was unable to convert it. Muller then broke him in the eighth game before holding his serve to take the first set 6-3. The Frenchman dominated the second set and cruised to a 4-0 lead before closing out the match, registering a 6-3, 6-2 win.
This is the second straight year when Felix Auger-Aliassime exited the Shanghai Masters after losing his opening match.
#2. Arthur Fils
21st seed Arthur Fils had high hopes while entering the Shanghai Masters, as he won his maiden ATP 500 event on hard court at the Japan Open. The 20-year-old received a bye to the second round and here, he faced Roberto Carballes Baena, who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.
Both players exchanged breaks in the first set, and Fils also had a set point at 6-5. However, the Frenchman failed to convert it and the set went to a tiebreak, which Carballes Baena won to take the lead in the match.
The second set also went to a tiebreak and the Spaniard raced to a 5-1 lead. While Fils showed some resistance, he could not prevent Carballes Baena from winning 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to reach the third round of a hard-court Masters 1000 event for the very first time in his career.
#1. Aryna Sabalenka
US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka entered the China Open as arguably the favorite. The Belarusian booked her place in the quarterfinals after straight-set wins over Mananchaya Samangkaew (6-4, 6-1), Ashlyn Krueger (6-2, 6-2) and 18th seed Madison Keys (6-4, 6-3).
Aryna Sabalenka faced Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the China Open and had two set points in the opening set. However, she was unable to convert them and the Czech won the set via a tiebreak.
Aryna Sabalenka dominated the second set and won it 6-2 to force the match into a decider. Sabalenka broke Muchova's serve a couple of times in the first five games of the final set and led 4-2. However, the Czech won the next four games to register a 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 victory and book her place in the semifinals of the China Open.
This was Muchova's third straight win over Aryna Sabalenka.