Sebastian Korda pulled through a tense final set against Alexei Popyrin on Friday to make a winning start at the Astana Open.

The American prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 in a first-round clash of fine margins at the Kazakhstani ATP 250 event. Korda had led 4-2 in the deciding set of the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting before Popyrin rallied to 4-4 to set up a tense climax. It was the fifth-seeded Korda who found a second break of his Australian opponent’s serve in the 11th game, however, setting him up for a two-hour, 54-minute triumph.

Just under 3 hours! 👀

Korda battles past Popyrin 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 and will face Nuno Borges in the next round!@ktf_kz | #AstanaOpen pic.twitter.com/vardPMtwSW

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2023

The win extended Korda’s solid form on hard courts in 2023. The 23-year-old American has earned 15 of his 19 tour-level wins on the surface, a tally that includes a championship-match run in Adelaide, semi-final appearances in Winston-Salem and Zhuhai, and a quarter-final run at the Australian Open.

Korda will meet Nuno Borges in the second round as he chases a quarter-final spot on event debut in Astana. The World No. 28 is chasing his second ATP Tour title and his first since lifting a trophy on clay in Parma in 2021.

Also on Friday, Korda’s fellow seeds Jiri Lehecka and Adrian Mannarino booked their places in the last eight in Kazakhstan.

Fourth seed Lehecka downed qualifier Egor Gerasimov 6-2, 7-6(3) to reach his sixth tour-level quarter-final of the season. The Czech saved two set points in the 12th game of the second set before dominating the tie-break to wrap an 86-minute win. He will next face #NextGenATP Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, who downed Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-4 to reach his second ATP Tour quarter-final.

Mannarino beat another qualifier, Alibek Kachmazov, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. The sixth-seeded Frenchman, who reached the final in Astana in 2020, set a last-eight clash with Austrian Jurij Rodionov.

The 24-year-old Rodionov, who advanced through qualifying, upset second seed Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-4. Rodionov won 61 per cent of his second-serve points, compared to the Argentine’s 42 per cent, to reach his second tour-level quarter-final and first since June 2021 (Stuttgart).

Bouncing back with a bang in Beijing.

Holger Rune snapped a four-match losing streak in style Friday in the Chinese capital by surging to a 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the China Open.

Rune arrived in Asia without a tour-level win since Wimbledon and had not competed since late August at the US Open. He may have been cursing his luck when drawn against World No. 15 Auger-Aliassime in China but the 20-year-old delivered a rock-solid display to forge an 84-minute triumph on the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center’s Diamond court.

“It felt good. I’ve had a tough period, both with my body and match circumstances, so I’m just happy to be back feeling good,” said Rune. “Feeling mentally well on and off the court. I’m just super happy with my level today.”

First win since Wimbledon 👏

A fantastic point from @holgerrune2003 on his way to taking out Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4!@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Bi3RM3zUB3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2023

A single break in each set proved enough for Rune to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Auger-Aliassime, who has had a moderate year by his standards but showed signs of his best in helping Team World to Laver Cup glory in Vancouver last weekend. Rune missed that event due to a back injury but was delighted with the way his body held up on the hard courts of Beijing.

“I was feeling very good. I didn’t feel anything in my body,” said Rune. “This is good. I don’t mind muscle soreness, but I’m too young to have these kinds of problems, so it’s good to feel good out there. I’m feeling healthy, taking care of my body and I’m super happy to play without pain and just enjoy myself.”

The next week in Beijing could be crucial for Rune as he seeks to reach the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The Dane, who was an alternate at the season-ending finals last year but did not play, sits just inside the qualification spots in eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,100 points, but he is only 90 points clear of Taylor Fritz.

Rune can extend that gap and book his ninth tour-level quarter-final appearance of the year when he meets Grigor Dimitrov next in Beijing. The Bulgarian earlier sealed his second-round spot at the ATP 500 with a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 triumph against Mackenzie McDonald.

Daniil Medvedev made a red-hot return to China after four years away on Friday, when the World No. 3 eased past Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-1 in Beijing.

Medvedev delivered a stunning display of clean-hitting at the China Open to seal a Tour-leading 39th hard-court win of the season in just 81 minutes. The 27-year-old made just three unforced errors off the ground in his first-round triumph, a level of consistency that ensured Paul was kept under relentless pressure for the entire match.

“It’s not easy for both of us. Both of us a little jet lagged. Him maybe more, coming from Vancouver,” reflected Medvedev. “Maybe that made the difference, but if I think only about myself, I’m happy with my level.

“I played great. The start of the match was not easy, but it’s never easy first round, especially in another part of the world. Then I was playing better and better during the match, so I’m happy about my level.”

Paul regularly approached the net to try and counter Medvedev’s baseline prowess and won 79 per cent (23/29) of points moving forward, but he was still unable to gain a foothold in the encounter. Medvedev converted five of 11 break points he earned to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the American.

Medvedev is making his debut this year at the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he will next meet Alex de Minaur. He is chasing his second title on Chinese soil and his third in Asia overall at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, having triumphed in Tokyo in 2018 and at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in 2019.

The Rolex Shanghai Masters was voted by players as the ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year in each of its first five editions from 2009-13. The event has seen previous champions including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the ATP Masters 1000:

When is the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The ATP Masters 1000 event will be held from 4 October to 15 October. The hard-court tournament will take place at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. The tournament director is Michael A. Luevano.

Who is playing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

Carlos Alcaraz will make his Shanghai debut. Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, Caper Ruud, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also among the field.

When is the draw for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The Shanghai singles draw will be made on Monday 2 October at 10:30 a.m. local time, on centre court.

What is the schedule for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

* Qualifying: Monday, 2 October – Tuesday, 3 October (Start times: Monday at noon; Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.)
* Main Draw: Wednesday, 4 October – Sunday, 15 October (Start times: Wednesday through second Thursday: 12: 30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.;  Second Friday & Saturday: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
* Doubles Final: Sunday, 15 October at 2 p.m.
* Singles Final: Sunday, 15 October not before 4:30 p.m.

What is the prize money and points for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The prize money for the Rolex Shanghai Masters is $8,800,000 and the Total Financial Commitment is USD $9,702,520.

SINGLES
Winner: $1,262,220 / 1000 points
Finalist: $662,360 / 600 points
Semi-finalist: $352,635 / 360 points
Quarter-finalist: $184,465 / 180 points
Round of 16: $96,955 / 90 points
Round of 32: $55,770 / 45 points
Round of 64: $30,855 / 25 points
Round of 96: $18,660 / 10 points

DOUBLES ($ per team)
Winner: $436,730 / 1000 points
Finalist: $231,660 / 600 points
Semi-finalist: $123,550 / 360 points
Quarter-finalist: $62,630 / 180 points
Round of 16: $33,460 / 90 points
Round of 32: $18,020 / 0 Points

How can I watch the Rolex Shanghia Masters?

Watch Live On Tennis TV
TV Schedule

How can I follow the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

Hashtag: #RolexShMasters
Facebook: Rolex Shanghai Masters
Twitter: @SH_RolexMasters
Instagram: @rolexshmasters

Who won the last edition of the Rolex Shanghai Masters in 2019?

Daniil Medvedev won the 2019 Shanghai Rolex Masters singles title with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Alexander Zverev in the championship match. Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares lifted the doubles trophy in Shanghai with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo in the final.

Who holds the Shanghai Rolex Masters record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Novak Djokovic (4)
Most Titles, Doubles: Marcelo Melo (3)
Oldest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 36, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Andy Murray, 23, in 2010
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Novak Djokovic in 2015
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko in 2009
Last Home Champion: None
Most Match Wins: Novak Djokovic (34)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

Marcos Giron overcame Stan Wawrinka in a first-round thriller at the Astana Open, where he clawed past the 38-year-old 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 7-6(8) at the ATP 250 event.

Competing against each other for the first time, there was little to separate the pair throughout the two-hour, 51-minute clash. Neither player faced a break point, with both dictating behind serve. In the third-set tie-break, Giron played consistently, limiting mistakes to pressure former World No. 3 Wawrinka and seal victory.

The American has now earned 20 tour-level wins this season. He achieved a personal-best 23 victories in 2021. Aiming to close that target further, the World No. 82 will next face Dominic Thiem or Juan Pablo Varillas in the second round.

Earlier, Adrian Mannarino clinched his 33rd tour-level win of the year to equal his personal-best season. The Frenchman, who earned 33 victories in 2017, defeated Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(4), 6-2.

The World No. 34 will next meet Alibek Kachmazov after the World No. 315 overcame Corentin Moutet 6-3, 7-6(5) in two hours and seven minutes.

Austrian qualifier Jurij Rodionov earned just his second tour-level win of the season, downing Gregoire Barrere 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). Rodionov saved two match points on serve at 4-5 in the third set before advancing in the tie-break. He will next meet second seed Sebastian Baez.

Qualifier Egor Gerasimov defeated Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6(5), 6-3, while Sho Shimabukuro beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-4.

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev are up and running at the China Open after defeating wild cards Jie Cui and Aoran Wang 6-4, 7-5 in the first round.

Khachanov and Rublev, who won the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid this season, won 32 of their 40 first-serve points and saved all six break points faced to secure victory in Beijing. They will next meet qualifiers Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler, who downed three seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 6-4.

Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev also advanced after they survived Marcelo Arevalo and Nikola Mektic 2-6, 6-3, 11-9. The Brazilian-German duo will next face top seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek or Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.

Pavic/Peers Reach Astana Second Round
Fourth seeds Mate Pavic and John Peers moved past Marton Fucsovics and Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6(2) in the Astana Open first round. The Croatian-Australian pair are partnering for the first time this week.

Frenchmen Gregoire Barrere and Adrian Mannarino cruised past wild cards Alexander Bublik and Daniil Golubev 6-2, 6-2. Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov defeated Sebastian Baez and Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 6-2.

Alex de Minaur became just the fourth player to earn five consecutive victories against Andy Murray on Thursday, when he saved three match points to edge the 36-year-old 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(6) at the China Open.

The Australian trailed 2-5 in the decider, but refused to go away, saving two match points on serve at 2-5 and one more at 5/6 in the tie-break to advance after two hours and 53 minutes.

“I think to be honest we both didn’t bring out best level today,” De Minaur said. “It was a scrap fest and was not pretty but I am happy I was able to get my first win in a long time when I have saved some mach points.

“I kept my head screwed on and I told myself to keep trying and to keep backing myself and eventually I was going to find my level. I am very happy to turn that match around.”

De Minaur now leads Murray 5-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having defeated the former World No. 1 in Monte-Carlo and Queen’s Club earlier this year. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are the only other players to record five consecutive victories against Murray, who triumphed in Beijing in 2016.

The World No. 12 will next face second seed Daniil Medvedev or Tommy Paul in the second round. De Minaur, who is 17-3 in first-round matches in 2023, captured the biggest title of his career at the ATP 500 in Acapulco in March.

In other action, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina earned the 50th hard-court tour-level win of his career when he moved past Chinese wild card Yi Zhou 6-2, 6-2. The 24-year-old, who now holds an 18-5 first-round record in 2023, hit 20 winners to advance after 70 minutes.

Davidovich Fokina will next play eighth seed Alexander Zverev or Argentine Diego Schwartzman at the ATP 500 hard-court event.

Qualifier Matteo Arnaldi continued his impressive run, defeating American J.J. Wolf 6-2, 6-2. The Italian, who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2022, is up six spots to No. 42 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Arnaldi enjoyed a run to the fourth round at a major for the first time at the US Open earlier this month. He will next meet fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Chilean Nicolas Jarry.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated World No. 149 Lloyd Harris 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3 to earn his 11th consecutive win against players ranked outside the Top 100. The Argentine saved the one break point he faced in the match, advancing after two hours and 54 minutes. The World No. 31 will next play seventh seed Casper Ruud or German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Ugo Humbert levelled his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Lorenzo Sonego at 2-2, downing the Italian 7-5, 3-6, 6-0 to set a second-round meeting against fifth seed Andrey Rublev or Briton Cameron Norrie.

Drawn against Dominic Thiem at this week’s Astana Open, Juan Pablo Varillas couldn’t help but reflect on the pair’s meeting at the Argentina Open in February.

The Peruvian navigated through qualifying in Buenos Aires, beat Joao Sousa and then the 2020 US Open champion as part of a career-changing week in the city he lives in.

Varillas proceeded to make a tour-level semi-final for the first time and saw his Pepperstone ATP Ranking climb from No. 101 to No. 81.

He has not been outside the Top 100 benchmark since, currently sitting at No. 67.

“I think that win, and that week, was really like a (tipping point) for me maybe,” the 27-year-old said. “It was like, ‘Now I was able to be at that level and compete at that level, high level, and do it for several matches in a row.’”

Indeed. Varillas downed third-seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals prior to losing in two tight sets to second seed Cameron Norrie.

His pinch-me moment also came on the red clay at Roland Garros, where Varillas won three consecutive five-setters to become the first Peruvian to make the Last 16 since Jaime Yzaga in 1994. He earned a clash with Novak Djokovic on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“When the crowd started doing a wave, I looked up and it was like, ‘Man, where are you now?!” said Varillas. “It was the first Grand Slam I got straight into the main draw. Then it was my first win in a Grand Slam in the main draw.

“There were a lot of objectives and dreams that came true in that week. Every single match for me was important. And for my confidence it was so, so important.”

Varillas returned to Peru for just under a week and was asked to sign autographs and pose for photos like never before.

“Maybe 10 months ago almost everyone didn’t know me and it was okay for me,” said Varillas. “I like that because I like to be a normal guy. But now it has changed.”

However, Varillas added three more sponsors after Roland-Garros to lift the tally to what he believes is seven.

He has managed to stay healthy, unlike in 2022 when a pair of ankle injuries, a hip injury and shoulder issue arose in a season that saw Varillas contest 80 matches at all levels including qualifying. All but six of those came on clay. This year, the number has risen to 11.

Varillas embarks on a new challenge against Thiem on Thursday in Kazakhstan, playing in his first tour-level indoor match.

“I am aware of that,” he said.

He only ever competed in one indoor match on the ATP Challenger Tour, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in Ismaning, Germany on carpet in October 2020 in 42 minutes.

Now, though, he is more accustomed to plying his trade on surfaces other than clay as well as switching surfaces. All part of a breakthrough campaign.

“It has been a great season, a season of progress, believing in myself and believing in what I can do on the court,” said Varillas.