Frances Tiafoe of Denis Shapovalov stumbles upon opening day excitement shocks Tokyo | ATP Journey

Tokyo

Tiafoe, Shapovalov stumbles as opening day Upsets Shock Tokeo Tokyo

Fukonvich rally formerly a former finalist Tiafo; Berrettini has won the first victory since May

September 24, 2025

Frances Tiafoe and Denis Shapovalov both slipped away a bright starting point at the turbulent opening ceremony at the Kinoshita Group Japan Japan Open Tennis Championships on Wednesday.

Taifoe suffered a first-time tough start to the season (10-1) defeat, with Marton Fucsovics fighting a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory in his qualifiers. The 2022 Tokyo finalists have topsy turvy decision makers marked by three service breaks, but Fukusovic has won a series of bruised baseline exchanges to make up for the frustration.

Tokyo debut! 👏

Marton Fucsovics takes out the eighth seed Tiafoe (3-6 6-1 7-5) to enter the second round @Japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/ycm4fiq1dw

– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2025

Fukusovic climbed seven spots in the PIF ATP Live rankings by improving 3-2 to 3-2 with Tiafoe’s Lexus ATP Head2head series. The Hungarian won his third ATP Tour title last month at Winston-Salem and will continue to run against Brandon Nakashima or Jordan Thompson in the Japanese capital.

Shapovalov’s exit was earlier against Daniel Altmaier, who scored the fifth first 30 wins of the season with a 7-5, 6-3 win. Shapovalov will face missed opportunities in the opening match since his marriage partner Mirjam Bjorklund.

The Canadian lost four straight games from 5-3, missed four fixed points in his 5-4 return before Altmaier regained momentum and won a 90-minute victory. Altmaier, 27, is now on the verge of a new milestone: he ranks No. 49 in the PIF ATP Live rankings, just one of the highest hits in his career.

In other early moves on the first day of Tokyo, Matteo Berrettini has won his first victory by crossing Jaume Munar with a 6-4, 6-2 since May. The Italian suffered two and a half months of injury last week and returned to action in Hangzhou last week, but fell to lucky loser Dalibor Sversina in the opener.

Expanded highlights of watching Tokyo’s first day action:

Although former world No. 6 Beretini beat Munar 28 unmandatory mistakes, it doesn’t look sharp, but he was able to rely on his aggressive match and beat the Spaniard with 32 winners. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he also saved all eight breakthrough points he faced, and will next face a fourth seed, Casper Ruud or Home Wild Card Shintaro Mochizuki.

Nuno Borges also advanced, surpassing wild card Yosuke Watanuki with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory, his personal best win of the season. Next, the Portuguese clashed with second seed Taylor Fritz or Gabriel Diallo, during the Tokyo debut campaign, which confronted Thursday.