Jack Draper beaten by Alex de Minaur in Japan Open epic as Cameron Norrie loses to Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud wins

Updated 17/10/2023 at 16:40 GMT

Jack Draper led by a set and a break against world No. 13 Alex de Minaur, and had a chance to serve for the match in the deciding set, but it was the Australian who came through in three sets at the Japan Open. British No. 4 Draper was playing in his first ATP Tour event since making the last 16 of the US Open. Cameron Norrie lost in straight sets to Taylor Fritz, while Casper Ruud progressed.

Ruud beats Watunaki to reach last 16 at Japan Open

Jack Draper was beaten by Alex de Minaur in a gruelling three-hour first-round encounter at the Japan Open, while Casper Ruud progressed and Cameron Norrie lost to top seed Taylor Fritz.

Qualifier Draper led by a set and a break, and also had a chance to serve for the match at 5-4 in the final set.

But it was world No. 13 De Minaur who prevailed with a 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(1) win and will face Diego Schwartzman in the next round after he beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 6-1.

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For Draper, it was almost another big win to add to his collection, which includes victories over Hubert Hurkacz, Karen Khachanov, Tommy Paul and Andy Murray this year.

The British No. 4 was playing in his first ATP Tour event since making the last 16 of the US Open, after dropping down to play two ATP Challenger events in France.

Draper had taken the first set the last time he met De Minaur at Wimbledon in 2022, and he did the same again.

After saving a break point in the seventh game of the set, Draper then broke to take the opener 6-4.

An early break in the second set put Draper 2-0 ahead as he scrambled well and then passed De Minaur at the net with a forehand.

But De Minaur hit back with a four-game run to lead 4-2.

Draper managed to get back on level terms but a tight tie-breaker went De Minaur’s way.

The deciding set went on serve until the ninth game when Draper broke to lead 5-4.

Draper couldn’t serve out the win as he looked to be struggling with cramp, and De Minaur then ran away in the tie-breaker and sealed victory with an ace.

De Minaur is still in contention to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. He is 13th in the standings, 560 points behind eighth-placed Holger Rune.

British No. 1 Norrie lost his fourth match in a row as he was beaten 6-4 6-3 by top seed Fritz.

Norrie broke to lead in the first set but then lost four successive games as Fritz took the opener.

Top-seeded Fritz beats Norrie 6-4 6-3 at the Japan Open

Fritz made a dominant start to the second set, winning nine of the first 10 points to open up a 3-0 advantage.

Norrie could not claw his way back into the contest as Fritz, who is ninth in the Race to Turin standings, closed out the win.

Another man looking to boost his ATP Finals chances in Japan is second seed Ruud, who saw off Japanese wild card Yosuke Watanaki to reach the second round.

The Norwegian claimed a 7-6(6) 6-3 win to set up a meeting with Marcos Giron next.

Ruud is right behind Fritz in the Race to Turin table in 10th, 295 points behind Holger Rune in the eighth and final qualification place.

World No. 14 Frances Tiafoe crashed out with a 6-3 7-6(4) defeat to Aslan Karatsev, while there was joy for home fans when Japan's 20-year-old wild card Shintaro Mochizuki earned his first Tour-level win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4 7-6(5).

US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton set up a second-round clash with Jordan Thompson by beating Taro Daniel 3-6 6-4 7-6(2).

British No. 2 Dan Evans plays Filip Misolic at the Stockholm Open.

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