In a shocking series of early exits, top seed Taylor Fritz, along with fellow stars Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas, were eliminated from the Japan Open in the first round on Thursday, leaving fans stunned.
Fritz, who recently reached the US Open final, was knocked out by France’s rising star Arthur Fils, who secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory. Fritz struggled with a back issue during the second set, requiring a medical time-out, but couldn’t regain his rhythm. Fils, ranked 24th in the world, capitalized on the opportunity and closed out the match in just over two hours, setting up a second-round clash with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.
It wasn’t the only surprise of the day. Frances Tiafoe, the number seven seed, fell to fellow American Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. Tiafoe, known for his athleticism and high-energy game, couldn’t find his groove as Nakashima’s consistency proved too much.
Meanwhile, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded fourth, suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of American qualifier Alex Michelsen. Tsitsipas took the first set 6-4, but Michelsen roared back with a 6-1, 6-2 comeback to secure one of the biggest victories of his career.
Defending champion Ben Shelton also faced adversity but managed to hold his ground, defeating fellow American Reilly Opelka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to keep his title defense alive. Shelton’s resilience in the face of Opelka’s powerful serve showcased his growing maturity on the tour.
British US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper breezed through his first-round encounter, dispatching Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-2 with ease, while American Tommy Paul, the number five seed, dominated Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-2.
Denmark’s Holger Rune, the number six seed, survived a scare from Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in a marathon match, eventually triumphing 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
Local fans were treated to a special moment as Japan’s Kei Nishikori, a two-time Japan Open champion, returned to form with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic. The former Grand Slam finalist showed flashes of his old brilliance, thrilling the home crowd with a gutsy performance.
The unexpected exits of big names like Fritz, Tiafoe, and Tsitsipas have opened up the draw for underdogs and qualifiers, making the Japan Open an exciting tournament to watch in the coming days.
