2019 Japan Open (Tokyo) - ATP 500 Thread

[Enceladus]

Defending champion: Daniil Medvedev (he will not defend title, originally had to play in Beijing, but he checked out)

Former champions, who are participating in this year's edition: David Goffin (2017)

Official website: https://www.rakutenopen.com/en/
Wiki-link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Rakuten_Japan_Open_Tennis_Championships_–_Singles (here you will find the form of a draw when it will released)
Edition: 46th
Date: 30 September–6 October
Category: ATP 500
Number of players in main draw: 32S
Surface: Hard
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Ariake Coliseum
TV Broadcast:

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ATP entry list:
Main Draw
1 Djokovic, Novak (SRB)
7 Nishikori, Kei (JPN)
12 Coric, Borna (CRO)
15 Goffin, David (BEL)
17 Anderson, Kevin (RSA)
22 Raonic, Milos (CAN)
23 Cilic, Marin (CRO)
24 Wawrinka, Stan (SUI)
26 Pouille, Lucas (FRA)
27 Fritz, Taylor (USA)
30 Paire, Benoit (FRA)
35 Struff, Jan-Lennard (GER)
36 De Minaur, Alex (AUS)
37 Djere, Laslo (SRB)
38 Shapovalov, Denis (CAN)
39 Simon, Gilles (FRA)
40 Albot, Radu (MDA)
41 Hurkacz, Hubert (POL)
42 Opelka, Reilly (USA)
43 Sousa, Joao (POR)
45 Herbert, Pierre-Hugues (FRA)
64 Carreno Busta, Pablo (ESP) (Acceptance based on year-end Top 30 list)
151 Chung, Hyeon (KOR) (Acceptance based on year-end Top 30 list)

Alternates
48 Sonego, Lorenzo (ITA)
49 Kecmanovic, Miomir (SRB)
50 Ramos-Vinolas, Albert (ESP)
51 Krajinovic, Filip (SRB)
52 Tiafoe, Frances (USA)
54 Ruud, Casper (NOR)
55 Thompson, Jordan (AUS)
56 Londero, Juan Ignacio (ARG)
57 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA)
57 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) PR
58 Evans, Daniel (GBR)
59 Nishioka, Yoshihito (JPN)
60 Norrie, Cameron (GBR)

Qualifying Draw
43 Tiafoe, Frances (USA)
50 Andujar, Pablo (ESP)
51 Krajinovic, Filip (SRB)
52 Sonego, Lorenzo (ITA)
59 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA)
60 Ruud, Casper (NOR)
74 Jarry, Nicolas (CHI)
81 Kwon, Soonwoo (KOR)
87 Fabbiano, Thomas (ITA)
89 Gojowczyk, Peter (GER)
91 Popyrin, Alexei (AUS)
94 Schnur, Brayden (CAN)
95 Millman, John (AUS)

Alternates
96 Johnson, Steve (USA)
97 Klahn, Bradley (USA)
102 Granollers, Marcel (ESP)
106 Ymer, Mikael (SWE)
107 Tomic, Bernard (AUS)
108 Kudla, Denis (USA)
110 Laaksonen, Henri (SUI)
113 Harris, Lloyd (RSA)
115 Duckworth, James (AUS)
119 Gerasimov, Egor (BLR)
124 Ebden, Matthew (AUS)
125 Gulbis, Ernests (LAT)
127 Bachinger, Matthias (GER)
132 Jung, Jason (TPE)

Wild cards:

• Taro Daniel (JPN)
• Yūichi Sugita (JPN)
• Go Soeda (JPN)

 

[BeatlesFan]

Disappointed Med won't play the event, it would have been great to see a Djoker-Medvedev final.

 

[James P]

Disappointed Med won't play the event, it would have been great to see a Djoker-Medvedev final.

He was scheduled to play China Open anyway, but I am definitely looking forward to the next Med v Big3 match.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Does anyone think Cilic, Goffin, Coric or any other player has a good chance to win here? Or will this be a very easy run to the championship for Novak Djokovic?

 

[James P]

I don't think Goffin or Cilic will do much of anything. Coric, de Minaur, maybe Fritz, maybe Shapovalov are the tripmines for an easy run by Novak.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Has SDL packed it in?

 

[JadeC]

Djokovic/Krajinovic and Pavic/Soares are warming up.

 

[James P]

Playing doubles, he must not be too injured.

 

[James P]

Going the distance against two top 25 doubles players.

 

[tennis4me]

I wonder why Novak plays Tokyo instead of Beijing. Beijing is also ATP500 tournament, but with more than double the price money. Appearance fee, better chance of winning title??

 

[James P]

Novak has played it. He's never played Tokyo before. Could just be trying to pick up another new trophy. He's won China a record 6 times!

 

[JadeC]

Olympics is in Tokyo next year. He wants to see how the court plays, the conditions, and whatnot. He will be gunning for that gold medal since it will probably be his last and best chance to win it.

 

[3fees]

Djokovic has 271 weeks at NO 1 spot and just passed Lendl at 270. next is Sampras at 286, which means 4 months more to get to 287, Federer has 310 weeks and leads the field.

I'm not sure on Djokovic physical condition although the draw seems like its opened up.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Congrats to Go Soeda blnt Struff 46 76 63 , Big win for Go.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Congrats to Go Soeda blnt Struff 46 76 63 , Big win for Go.

Cheers
3Fees

Wow, I'm surprised! Struff has shown promise and certainly thought he'd win this one. Go who??

 

[stringertom]

Wow, I'm surprised! Struff has shown promise and certainly thought he'd win this one. Go who??

Soeda is a veteran Japanese player with most of his play at Challenger level but he has been top 50 with wins against Wawrinka, Nishikori and Hewitt sprinkled into his resume.

 

[James P]

Uchiyama is trying his best to be the third Japanese man into the R16. He's up a set and a break on Paire.

 

[yokied]

The 3rd early round clash between Goffin and the Busta in the last month. Is this the new Grigolo-Stan?

PCB is playing some good ball with a lot of fight. He's going to take some busting.

 

[stringertom]

Uchiyama is trying his best to be the third Japanese man into the R16. He's up a set and a break on Paire.

He hands Benoit a paire of deuces, 2&2. Easy 20 PPL points!

 

[James P]

The Japanese aren't messing around. Daniel up a break early on Coric.

 

[D-Lite]

No Nishikori? No problem for the Japanese men - Nishioka, Soeda, Daniel and Uchiyama all into R2 for the home fans.

 

[Centrius]

How was that shoulder? Couldn't see his match but I'm glad he won his debut.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Soeda is a veteran Japanese player with most of his play at Challenger level but he has been top 50 with wins against Wawrinka, Nishikori and Hewitt sprinkled into his resume.

Thanks for educating me, @stringertom. Beating those players is no small feat! Will have to check him out!

 

[3fees]

Congrats to Djokovic blnt Popyrin 64 62

“It seems like my shoulder is fine,” said Djokovic, who faces Aussie qualifier Alexei Popyrin in his opener. “I’m hoping that that’s going to be the case this week as well for singles.”

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Mainad]

Congrats to Djokovic blnt Popyrin 64 62

“It seems like my shoulder is fine,” said Djokovic, who faces Aussie qualifier Alexei Popyrin in his opener. “I’m hoping that that’s going to be the case this week as well for singles.”

Cheers
3Fees

Whoever doubted it???

 

[3fees]

Whoever doubted it???

Have to wait and see...

Getting Started

Pacific Standard Time (PST) to Tokyo, Japan ( in Tokyo)
6 pm PST	is	10 am in Tokyo
7 pm PST	is	11 am in Tokyo
8 pm PST	is	12 pm in Tokyo
9 pm PST	is	1 pm in Tokyo

11 am start time (Tokyo time) is 7 pm pst for watching live on the west coast.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Wednesday, 10-2-2019 Day 5
Colosseum starts at 11:00
1st Rnd
(3)Goffin(McFly) v PCB H2H 1-2
2nd Rnd
Albot v (Q)Uchiyama H2H 0-0
(1)Djokovic v (WC)Go Soeda H2H 0-0
Nishioka v (5)Pouille H2H 0-1

All matches show followed by

Cheers
3Fees

 

[stringertom]

Goffin got a Busta breadstick handed to him but is now battling on level ground by breaking twice to stay even in the second set. Check that...Busta collected the fifth consecutive break of the set for a 3-2 lead. Goffin is serving 25% first serves and has won just one of 12 second serve points. Busta holds for 4-2.

 

[stringertom]

Goffin fought back from the break down to force the TB but then fell behind 1-5 only to fight back to 5-5 and then save MP three times to take the TB 10-8.

 

[3fees]

(3)Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) McFly pulled it off being 3-5 in the tie breaker

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

(3)Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) 1-0 Mcfly breaks PCB serve.

The physio has started a medical evaluation on PCB

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) 2-0 Goffin consolidates the break


Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) 30 Goffin up a dbl break, PCB appears to be toast


Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) 40 Goffin consolidates the dbl break, PCB had 3 BP's , could not convert.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) 50 Goffin serving for a doughnut.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Congrats to Goffin blnt PCB 16 76 60,, PCB tanked after the tie break loss.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Aussie Darcy]

What a collapse from Carreno Busta.

Led 6-1 4-2, also led 5-2 in the 2nd set tiebreaker and had 3 match points in the breaker but failed.

Gets bagelled in the 3rd.

 

[Beacon Hill]

(3)Goffin(McFly) v PCB 16 76(8) McFly pulled it off being 3-5 in the tie breaker

Cheers
3Fees

Impressive that he came back from 3-5 in the breaker. Even more impressive is that two points earlier he was 1-5 in the breaker.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Who on earth is making the final in that bottom half of the draw:

Opelka v Simon
Albot v (Q) Uchiyama
(8) De Minaur or Harris v (Q) Millman
Thompson v (WC) Daniel

Simon is the only one to have won an ATP500 title before. De Minaur the only other to have made an ATP500 final.

 

[stringertom]

Impressive that he came back from 3-5 in the breaker. Even more impressive is that two points earlier he was 1-5 in the breaker.

Hard to digest Spam, especially inaccurate Spam. Before the main course began being served I noted Goffin rising from the dead at the 1-5 changeover.

blnt

Cheers
stringytom

 

[yokied]

“It seems like my shoulder is fine,” said Djokovic, who faces Aussie qualifier Alexei Popyrin in his opener. “I’m hoping that that’s going to be the case this week as well for singles.”

Popeye really came to play in the first 8 games, saving a lot of BPs and doing some damage. Popeye was frustrating Novak, winning most of the long rallies and had him pretty much redlining. Then he just checked out mentally in the 9th game with terrible shot selection, not even running on balls. Never came back. It looked like they were both nearly gassed at 4-4 in the first but Novak could keep going and Popeye was just cooked.

 

[stringertom]

AdM may join PCB at the WATLYNM for his second stay in three months. Harris just held to 5-2 first set and has saved the lone BP he faced earlier in the set.

 

[3fees]

De Minaur v Harris 36 Harris up 1 set

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Impressive that he came back from 3-5 in the breaker. Even more impressive is that two points earlier he was 1-5 in the breaker.

PCB was going down, the usual in tie breakers is once one gets ahead they win it, PCB was checking out, 3rd set he ate a doughnut..

Cheers
3Fees

 

[stringertom]

Harris choked a 5-3 TB lead FTW and lost it 6-8 on a DF.

Going three with de Minaurtar.

 

[stringertom]

Albot broke to get back on serve at 3-4 before a DF allowed Uchiyama to break back. The Japanese now serves at 6-7(2) 5-3.

 

[stringertom]

The Tokyo crowd is getting their money’s worth with all four matches going the distance (minus Busta’s bagel binge session).

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow what a performance by Harris. Played well in that tiebreak and saved match points to knock out the 8th seeded De Minaur.

No seeds left in the bottom half after R1.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

One of these players will be in an ATP500 final:

Opelka
Simon
Albot
Uchiyama
Harris
Millman
Thompson
Daniel

 

[Benoit Kyrgios]

Opelka very impressive! Raw power!