Tokyo
\n Tiafoe, Shapovalov stumble as opening-day upsets shock Tokyo<\/p>\n
Fucsovics rallies past former finalist Tiafoe; Berrettini earns first win since May<\/p>\n
September 24, 2025<\/p>\n
Richard A. Brooks\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Marton Fucsovics is up seven spots to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
Frances Tiafoe<\/a> and Denis Shapovalov<\/a> both watched bright beginnings slip away on a turbulent opening Wednesday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships<\/a> in Tokyo.<\/p>\n Taifoe suffered his first opening-round hard-court loss of the season (10-1) at the hands of qualifier Marton Fucsovics<\/a>, who fought for a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory. The 2022 Tokyo finalist pressed hard in a topsy-turvy decider marked by three service breaks, but Fucsovics won a series of bruising baseline exchanges to seal the upset.<\/p>\n Tokyo Debut Delight! \ud83d\udc4f <\/p>\n Marton Fucsovics<\/a> takes out 8th seed Tiafoe (3-6 6-1 7-5) to move into Round 2 @japanopentennis<\/a> | #kinoshitajotennis<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YCM4fIq1Dw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n By improving to 3-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Tiafoe, Fucsovics climbed seven spots to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The Hungarian won his third ATP Tour title in Winston-Salem last month and will continue his campaign in the Japanese capital against Brandon Nakashima<\/a> or Jordan Thompson<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shapovalov\u2019s exit came earlier against Daniel Altmaier<\/a>, who scored for his fifth Top 30 win of the season with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph. Shapovalov \u2014 in his first outing since marrying partner Mirjam Bjorklund<\/a> \u2014 will rue his missed opportunities in the opening set.<\/p>\n The Canadian dropped four straight games from 5-3, and missed four set points on return at 5-4 before Altmaier clawed back the momentum and raced to a 90-minute victory. The 27-year-old Altmaier is now on the verge of a new milestone: He is up to No. 49 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, just one shy of his career high.<\/p>\n In other early action on Day 1 in Tokyo, Matteo Berrettini<\/a> earned his first victory since May by moving past Jaume Munar<\/a> 6-4, 6-2. The Italian returned to action last week in Hangzhou after a two-and-a-half month injury hiatus, but fell to lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina<\/a> in his opener.<\/p>\n Watch Extended Highlights of Day 1 action in Tokyo:\u00a0<\/p>\n Although the former World No. 6 Berrettini hit 28 unforced errors against Munar and did not look typically sharp, he was able to count on his aggressive game and overpowered the Spaniard with 32 winners. He also saved all eight break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and will next face fourth seed Casper Ruud<\/a> or home wild card Shintaro Mochizuki<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nuno Borges<\/a> also advanced, rallying past wild card Yosuke Watanuki<\/a> 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 for his personal-best 25th win of the season. Next in his debut campaign in Tokyo, the Portuguese set up a big-serving clash with second seed Taylor Fritz<\/a> or Gabriel Diallo<\/a>, who face off on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n