Chung Strengthens Race To Milan Bid, Ousts Defending Finalist

Any hopes the defending Shanghai Rolex Masters finalist had of qualifying in the Race To London are in jeopardy after Hyeon Chung ousted ninth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.

The #NextGenATP Korean equalled the best win of his career with his victory over the No. 13 in the Emirates ATP Rankings (also d. No. 13 Goffin in Montreal) in his first ATP World Tour match since the US Open. Chung was never truly threatened against Bautista Agut, only facing three break points in the match, all of which he saved in the same game in the second set. He broke Bautista Agut three times, including in his final two service games to close out the match.

For Bautista Agut, it was a major blow to his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. He entered the week in Shanghai at No. 16 in the Race, 825 points behind David Goffin in eighth. Last year, the Spaniard beat then-No.1 Novak Djokovic en route to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final (l. Murray).

It was an important win for Chung, who entered the tournament outside the cut in the Race To Milan. The 21 year old was eighth in the standings, just 22 points behind Daniil Medvedev for the seventh and final automatic spot. But since the Russian lost his opening-round match against No. 15 seed Lucas Pouille, Chung will leapfrog him in the Race.

Chung was not the only #NextGenATP player to claim a triumph on Monday, as American qualifier Frances Tiafoe upset World No. 37 Benoit Paire, 6-4, 6-4. The 19 year old broke the Frenchman to start the match, but after giving it right back did not face a break point throughout the rest of the match.

Tiafoe currently sits in ninth in the Race To Milan, and will remain 123 points behind Chung after both players advanced to the second round.

In an all-#NextGenATP match, qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas upset World No. 42 Karen Khachanov, 7-5, 6-3. It was a dominant performance by the Greek 19 year old, who did not face a break point in the match while taking advantage of two of his four opportunities to earn his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 main draw victory.