Top-seeded Taylor Fritz, the defending champion at the Japan Open, started his title defense with a strong performance as he defeated Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in the first round. The American showcased his skill with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in Tokyo.
During the match, Fritz delivered 13 aces, demonstrating his impressive serving abilities and securing his place in the second round. Fritz and Norrie have a long-standing rivalry, with this victory taking Fritz ahead 7-6 in their career head-to-head matchups.
Second seed Casper Ruud of Norway also advanced, securing a 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki. However, the tournament saw two seeded players fall in the opening round. Russian Aslan Karatsev defeated sixth seed Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6 (4), while Australian Alexei Popyrin outperformed seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, winning 6-4, 6-2.
In an all-Argentina battle, Diego Schwartzman emerged victorious against Francisco Cerundolo with a score of 6-4, 6-1. Japanese player Shintaro Mochizuki knocked out Tomas Martin Etcheverry, another Argentine, with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (5). Up-and-coming American Ben Shelton made a remarkable comeback to defeat Japan’s Taro Daniel, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2).
Nordic Open: J.J. Wolf Upsets Fifth Seed Sebastian Baez
In the first round of the Nordic Open in Stockholm, American J.J. Wolf delivered a stunning performance by defeating the fifth seed, Sebastian Baez from Argentina, with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Wolf showcased his strength on the first serve, winning 75.9 percent of his first-service points. He also maintained a 25-15 lead in total winners while committing only three unforced errors.
The tournament saw another upset as Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov outplayed the seventh seed, Christopher Eubanks from the United States, with a score of 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5). Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic secured a victory over eighth seed Daniel Evans of Great Britain, winning 6-4, 7-6 (1). Laslo Djere from Serbia, Emil Ruusuvuori from Finland, and Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka also advanced in their opening matches.
European Open: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Stages Comeback Against Roberto Carballes Baena
At the European Open in Antwerp, Belgium, French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard orchestrated a remarkable comeback against sixth seed Roberto Carballes Baena from Spain. Perricard, ranked 226th in the world, rebounded from a challenging first set to win 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). He demonstrated his skill by delivering 13 aces and saving seven of the ten break points he faced.
German qualifier Maximilian Marterer secured a straightforward victory by defeating No. 7 seed Richard Gasquet with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Fifth-seeded Yannick Hanfmann of Germany emerged victorious over Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem from Austria rallied to win against Italy’s Luca Nardi with a score of 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. Additionally, No. 8 seed Juan Pablo Varillas from Peru and Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko also advanced in the tournament.
