Taylor Fritz overcame a stern opening-round test at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships on Thursday, edging Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) in a two-hour, nine-minute battle. The victory kept alive his push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals 2025 and headlined a successful day for American players in Tokyo.
Fritz digs deep to extend perfect record over Diallo
Fresh from impressive Laver Cup wins against Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, Fritz was forced to weather heavy hitting from Diallo, who blasted 40 winners to the American’s 24. Despite being outgunned, the second seed used his experience and composure to clinch the deciding tiebreak, improving to 3-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Currently sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, Fritz is chasing a second straight appearance at the year-end finals. He reached the 2024 title match before falling to Jannik Sinner.
“The biggest thing for me today was the energy,” Fritz admitted after the match. “Coming from Laver Cup, with Andre [Agassi] and the team bringing so much intensity, it’s tough to match that. I had to find my rhythm, but it was a really tough match to play.”
The World No. 9, who lifted the Tokyo trophy in 2022, will next face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in Round 2.
Korda rallies, Brooksby stuns Humbert
It wasn’t just Fritz flying the American flag. Sebastian Korda mounted a comeback to edge compatriot Marcos Giron 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). The win sets up a clash with Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro, who shocked fifth seed Tomas Machac in straight sets.
Meanwhile, Jenson Brooksby produced one of the day’s biggest upsets, toppling sixth seed and 2024 finalist Ugo Humbert 7-6(4), 6-3. Brooksby, now with 17 tour-level wins in 2025, will meet Luciano Darderi, who ousted home favorite Yoshihito Nishioka.
Korda, back from a shin injury that sidelined him during the grass season, jumped seven spots to No. 67 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after the win. Brooksby continues to push toward surpassing his career-best season from 2022.
Nakashima and Quinn add to U.S. success
Brandon Nakashima and Ethan Quinn rounded off a dominant American showing. Nakashima, riding confidence from a semi-final run in Chengdu, battled past Jordan Thompson 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-2.
Quinn, ranked World No. 81, delivered one of his best performances on tour, defeating fellow American Alex Michelsen 7-5, 6-2. The win adds further momentum to his breakthrough season.
With Fritz leading the charge, the American contingent is gathering steam on the Asian swing. Korda’s return to form, Brooksby’s upset win, and Quinn’s continued rise underline the depth of U.S. talent on display in Tokyo. For Fritz, each win brings him closer to sealing a Turin berth, while for the rest, the hard courts of Asia provide a chance to climb the rankings and make statements of their own.