The first seed, Taylor Fritz, closed a fateful day on Thursday for the favorites at the Japan Tennis Openwhere Stefanos Tsitsipas, fourth seed, Frances Tiafoe, seventh, and Felix Auger-Aliassime were also surprised.
The recent US Open finalist succumbed to Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3 where this is the first confrontation between the two.
This is the main surprise of the day in Tokyobut far from alone.
Tsitsipas fell in three sets against American Alex Michelsen, from the qualifying phase, 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2further proof that the Greek has gone through a slump in results late in the season, after being eliminated in the first round of the United States Open and in the second round of Cincinnati and Montreal in his previous appearances on the circuit.
Tiafoe stumbled against compatriot Ben Nakashima, a semi-finalist last week in Hangzhou (China), 7-5, 6-3while Auger-Aliassime fell to local player Yoshihito Nishioka, who entered the tournament by invitation and won 7-6 (5), 3-6 and 7-6 (5).
Yes, American Ben Shelton followedeighth seed, defeating his compatriot Reilly Opelka 3-6, 6-1 and 6-4
British Jack Draper, American Tommy Paul and Czech Tomas Machac also sealed their place in the second round.
Source: La Verdad
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