Fucsovics stuns Tiafoe as Shapovalov exits early in Tokyo

Frances Tiafoe and Denis Shapovalov both made early exits on a turbulent opening Wednesday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, where qualifier Marton Fucsovics and Germany’s Daniel Altmaier pulled off notable upsets.

Tiafoe, a finalist in Tokyo two years ago, saw his unbeaten streak in hard-court openers this season snapped at 10-1, falling 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to Fucsovics.

The eighth seed struggled with his first serve and vented his frustration by smashing his racket after the Hungarian sealed the match with a forehand winner.

Despite three service breaks in a tense deciding set, Fucsovics maintained control in the bruising baseline exchanges to improve his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Tiafoe to 3-2.

The Winston-Salem champion rose seven spots to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will next face Brandon Nakashima or Jordan Thompson.

For Tiafoe, ranked No. 29, it was a fourth consecutive defeat following his U.S. Open third-round exit and two Davis Cup losses earlier this month.

Shapovalov’s fortunes were no better. Returning to competition after his wedding to partner Mirjam Bjorklund, the Canadian failed to convert four set points in the opening set and surrendered momentum in a 7-5, 6-3 loss to Altmaier.

The German, who collected his fifth Top 30 victory of the season, climbed to No. 49 in the Live Rankings, just one place shy of his career high.

Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini claimed his first win since May by beating Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-2. The Italian, still searching for rhythm after a two-month injury layoff, struck 32 winners against 28 unforced errors but saved all eight break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

He will next take on either fourth seed Casper Ruud or Japanese wild card Shintaro Mochizuki.

Portugal’s Nuno Borges also advanced, rallying past home wild card Yosuke Watanuki 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 for his 25th tour-level win of the season. Borges will meet either second seed Taylor Fritz or Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the second round.