2024 Tokyo Open - ATP 500

[Aabye5]

A pretty fun draw, including a former major winner, a recent major finalist, and a couple of players trending upwards.

Fritz is the top seed, and has a chance to cement his status in the top 5 of the Race to Turin.
Haven't heard much from second seed Hurkacz since his injury. Will he be able to right the ship?

First round matches to watch -

Cilic v Nishikori, a rematch of the 2014 USO final
Ruud v Thompson, they split their matches this year
Popyrin v Machac, both had good hard court runs in NA
Opelka v Shelton, pick the number of tiebreaks

 

[Aabye5]

Tsitsipas and Rune will both be working with new coaches. Does either make a deep run?

Draper is in a good section of the draw and will want to make good on his USO success.

 

[Aabye5]

After withdrawals, Tokyo might have more competition than Beijing.

 

[Aabye5]

@nolefam_2024 - why Ruud?

 

[nolefam_2024]

@nolefam_2024 - why Ruud?

Seems off season and Ruud is fit. Let's see.

 

[Aabye5]

Seems off season and Ruud is fit. Let's see.

You might be on to something. Maybe he picked up some confidence playing with Alcaraz.

 

[Aabye5]

Tommy Paul takes the win over Arnaldi, 63 62, and Jack Draper comes through over Bellucci with a similar score of 64 62.

 

[Aabye5]

Nishioka takes the first set over FAA

 

[Aabye5]

Michelsen v Tsitsipas could be a doozy

 

[Aabye5]

Tsitsipas goes up two breaks, but cedes one back.

 

[Aabye5]

Nishioka takes out FAA in three, including two tiebreaks.

 

[Aabye5]

Michelsen takes out Tsitsipas in three

 

[BenC]

Yoshi cramps during his celebration and hobbles to shake FAA's hand.

 

[JJGUY]

City bus departs early for Shanghai stop.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Top seed Fritz out 1st round to Fils, yikes.

Joins Tsitsipas and Tiafoe.

 

[JJGUY]

Top seed Fritz out 1st round to Fils, yikes.

Joins Tsitsipas and Tiafoe.

Laver cup curse!

 

[vokazu]

Is Nishikori using Wilson Ultra racquet? Looks amazing when it shines blue / purple.

 

[vokazu]

Wow Nishi is so explosive! Amazing forehand dtl winner to break back in 2nd set.

 

[vokazu]

Cilic too good in second set.

 

[vokazu]

Wow good to see Thomas Johansson coaching Nishikori!

 

[nolefam_2024]

Crowd at Japan Open is so respectful today. No hooliganism.

 

[vokazu]

Poor Cilic, double faulted to get broken in 3rd set.

Poor Nishi, medical time out.

 

[vokazu]

Crowd at Japan Open is so respectful today. No hooliganism.

They're usually very well behaved.

 

[vokazu]

Nishi match points


1 mp

 

[vokazu]

Wow Nishi won again in Tokyo, after 6 years.

 

[vokazu]

Cilic is probably worn out from Hangzhou victory.

 

[vokazu]

That was amazing match, lots of winners from both. Hard hitting, full effort match.

 

[MeatTornado]

Wow, half the seeds already out in the first round. Guess they were here strictly for the appearance fees.

 

[Aabye5]

Wow, half the seeds already out in the first round. Guess they were here strictly for the appearance fees.

No, given the scorelines I think this was just a few cases of tough matches.

 

[robyrolfo]

No, given the scorelines I think this was just a few cases of tough matches.

Nakashima has been playing well lately, so it was a bit of a tough draw for Tiafoe, but this loss can hardly be a surprise. After the US Open letdown, and his bad loss to Zverev in the Laver Cup, it seems like he will unfortunately check out for the rest of the year.

 

[Pmasterfunk]

Nakashima has been playing well lately, so it was a bit of a tough draw for Tiafoe, but this loss can hardly be a surprise. After the US Open letdown, and his bad loss to Zverev in the Laver Cup, it seems like he will unfortunately check out for the rest of the year.

He did beat Medvedev at Laver cup, so it’s not that bad.

Still strange to think Kralingen is gone, I think of him every time Med loses.

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

Man, seeds in a hurry to go home! Fritz/Ruud/Tsitsipas/Tiafoe all out. Good to see Rune / Paul /Michelsen/Shelton/Draper through but for old times sake, especially to see Kei advance.

 

[robyrolfo]

He did beat Medvedev at Laver cup, so it’s not that bad.

Still strange to think Kralingen is gone, I think of him every time Med loses.

Still not sure how he beat Medvedev, but at the end of the day there wasn't that much pressure on him. I think he's in his own head when under real pressure.

And what happened to Kralingen?

 

[toby55555]

Draper second title in-coming.

 

[Aabye5]

"Mr Magic" Machac has slipped through against Tommy Paul in a third set tiebreak. Good stuff.

 

[sportsfan1]

Mahac made paul look ordinary quite a few times even in that close match. Dude can generate good pace on groundies but seems to be needing a better second serve.

 

[Hamnavoe]

Nishikori is rolling back the years. Unbelievable ball-striking and redirection to chew up Thompson and lead by a set and a break.

 

[kunos]

Rune starts the match with 4 aces... and then proceeds to break at 0.

 

[Dane_is_Finnish_OJ]

Holger is legit good today. Serving high % and dropping heavy forehand bombs.

 

[Move]

Rune & Tricks
Referee not buying it and gives him time violation

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

Nishikori is rolling back the years. Unbelievable ball-striking and redirection to chew up Thompson and lead by a set and a break.

Yah man. Enjoying the dude's foray's.

Was hoping Tommy could go deeper. Good to see Holger and Alex Michelsen through.

The qf's look good. Would love to see Kei get through, but think Holger will do it. My other picks are Alex/Jack/Ben.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Nishikori is rolling back the years. Unbelievable ball-striking and redirection to chew up Thompson and lead by a set and a break.

Yes, good to see him playing well. It's sad that the kind of form he showed against Thompson has become rare. I hope he can play tomorrow and hasn't hurt himself.

 

[Aabye5]

The top seeds dropped, but still some good tennis and some interesting narratives playing out.

Kei is back in the mix, which is always a good thing
Rune seems to finally be finding some decent form
Shelton has a chance to repeat if his form holds
Draper and Machac are trying to keep the momentum going after USO

Not sure there's an obvious favorite here, and all of the matches seem like a bit of a toss-up.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Yes, good to see him playing well. It's sad that the kind of form he showed against Thompson has become rare. I hope he can play tomorrow and hasn't hurt himself.

Everyone will be rooting for Kei vs Rune.

 

[JJGUY]

Everyone will be rooting for Kei vs Rune.

lol, but something tells me Rune might just win here, besides being a mug, he is also unpredictable!

 

[Lleytonstation]

lol, but something tells me Rune might just win here, besides being a mug, he is also unpredictable!

He probably will just to make us like him less.

 

[Aabye5]

He probably will just to make us like him less.

The essence of Rune. Winning when you least expect it, losing when he least needs a loss. His Paris win was a good example of that, actually.

 

[vokazu]

Kei is ON FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[18x20 ftw]

Interesting timing for the mto…

 

[Nostradamus]

What is this ? Nishikoir's las attempt to win the major ?? if he keeps playing like this, we are looking at the next Austrailin open champoion ,, Kei Nishikori.