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| October 7, 2024 | by Vivienne Christie |
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It was worth the wait as Frances Tiafoe successfully launched his Rolex Shanghai Masters campaign on Monday. Granted a first-round bye by virtue of his seeding at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, the American's opening-round match against Zhou Yi was delayed by two days due to rain.
The 13th-seeded American had also played another waiting game of sorts in Shanghai. Having last claimed a main-draw singles win at the tournament in 2017, he was a convincing 6-2 6-4 winner over China's Zhou Yi on the Stadium Court.
"I'm just happy that I feel good again, and to have a good effort in Shanghai," said Tiafoe. "I mean, Chinese love their tennis, and they follow us so well, so I just wanted to put a good performance for them."
"I mean, I have a shot at the end of the year to try to have a really successful end, and I would like to get as close as I can to the top 10, if not top 10," he said.
Requiring just over an hour to progress against the world No.440 Zhou, Tiafoe appears well within reach of his objective.
"I'm playing great tennis, so it's just a matter of just feeling better again," the 26-year-old said. "I was really excited to play, which I think really helped today. Yeah, I mean, I'm really confident in my game right now."
So too is his No.1 countryman, Taylor Fritz.
The seventh-seeded American started his fifth campaign in Shanghai with a new career milestone, after contesting his first Grand Slam final at the US Open last month.
"Last year when I was here, I was also playing at a very high level. I think, I would say, the last three years of my career I think I've been a different player," said Fritz. "But I mean, obviously coming here confident, and then, you know, in a really great spot in the Race for the year, and I'm hoping to finish the year strong."
The 26-year-old took an impressive first step in navigating the challenge of French qualifier, Terence Atmane, who produced 34 spirited winners as he pushed the American to two tiebreak sets.
"(I'm) definitely happy with how I played but I wouldn't say I had everything under control because he was serving big and hitting a lot of winners," said Fritz, having completed his 7-6(4) 7-6(5) victory in just over two hours.
"I just tried to stay with it, and, you know, hope that he wasn't going to just be able to just fire winners and huge serves on every big point."
Grigor Dimitrov also maintained focus as he was extended to three sets by world No.73 Belgian Zizou Bergs.
Having started their second-round match on Saturday, the pair resumed their rain-delayed encounter with Dimtrov leading by a set, but down 2-4 in the second.
Experience showed as the pair progressed to a third set, where Dimitrov emerged with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win. "I think given all the circumstances, that was, I think it was a great day for me," said the No.9 seed, who has recently managed some injury challenges.
"I have enough years in me to appreciate moments like that, because it's not really so much about the win, but it's how you manage it, how you adapt. That's the way the true art of our sport is.
"I think when moments like that come, I really appreciate them a lot more than anything else. Of course you want more, but also you need to be a little bit more aware, I think, in order for you to get further on."
David Goffin is also cherishing every moment, with a victory over No.15 seed Lorenz Musetti another marker in the Belgian's recent resurgence. Ranked outside the word's top 100 at the same time a year ago, the 33-year-old now has a chance to build further on his current No.66 position when he faces Marcos Giron - an upset winner over No.24 seed Karen Khachanov - in the third round.
That match was one of several moved indoors as rain continued to impact play at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre. Earlier on the indoor courts, Tallon Griekspoor triumphed over No.26 seed Jordan Thompson and Roman Safiullin was an upset winner over Alexander Bublik.
The closed roof of the Stadium Court added to the atmosphere of a thrilling night session, in which Holger Rune claimed a come-from-behind win over Matteo Berrettini.
The 21-year-old withstood 16 aces from the experienced Berrettini as he completed a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory in one hour and 59 minutes. Several critical points, said Rune, helped determine the outcome of a superb-quality match.
"He played just a few sloppy points and I was on him every time he got central or short on the court, I was attacking and you know, controlling the game more and that led me to Victory," said the 12th-seeded Norwegian, who will face No.33 Jiri Lehecka in the third round.
The youth-versus-experience theme continued as Flavio Cobolli, at age 22, survived a tremendous fight from the 39-year-old Stan Wawrinka.
The Swiss wildcard produced some vintage shot-making to take the first set in a tiebreak, with the Italian finally gaining some traction in the second set.
After just over two hours, the 28th-seeded Cobolli claimed the first break of serve in the second game of the third set. He maintained that lead to secure a 6-7(6) 7-6(4) 6-3 victory after two hours and 30 minutes.
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