On one of the first days, with a stroke of the pen, three players from the top-10 fell into the draw, four of the top eight seeds. A setback for the aspirations of the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo, which began this week with a handicap that left the Italian out. Jannik Sinner and Spanish Carlos Alcarazwho chose to compete in parallel at the ATP 500 in Beijing.
The day started badly, it ended the same way. The last star to leave the tournament early was the Norwegian Casper Ruud, 25 years and number 9.
This is a risk because the Nordic is only four days ago competing with Laver Cupin Berlin. Huge change of continent, of schedules. And also, with dangerous rivals from the beginning. It happened to Ruud, as well as to the American Taylor Fritz 26 years old and number 7, also Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas26 years old and number 12 and the American Frances Tiafoe, 26 years old and number 15.
A real pickle of favorites. Fritz gave in to the explosive Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3; Ruud fell on the rocky Australian Jordan Thompson 7-6 (5) and 6-1.
Tsitsipas has been traded down for a long time, he is relatively easy prey for the Americans Alex Michelsen4-6, 6-1 and 6-2. Tiafoe lost his irregularity, and he found himself with a compatriot who was more involved in the work, Brandon Nakashimawinning 7-5 and 6-3.
The exception to the rule, another American, Ben Shelton who didn’t blame the Laver Cup hangover before his countryman Reilly Opelka3-6, 6-1 and 6-4.
Among the heavyweights of the event, the Danish also passed Holger Rune, which defeated another Laver Cup, the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo6-2, 5-7 and 6-4. It’s just American Tommy Paul: 6-3 and 6-2 to Matteo Arnaldi.
Although Tokyo was pleased with its idol’s success, Kei Nishikoriwho beat Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3 in a ‘vintage’ match, a Grand Slam final.
Source: La Verdad
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