Japan Open: Rune survives Tabilo test to reach second round

Dane Holger Rune, the No 6 seed, edged out Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Japan Open on Thursday.

This was the Dane’s first win on tour since Cincinnati in August, ending a three-match losing streak, and the 20th on hardcourts this year. It also marked his first win over a top 25-ranked player since April.

Rune, ranked No 14, will play Japanese wildcard Yoshihito Nishioka next at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Tokyo ATP 500, other first-round matches (Ariake Colosseum, hard, USD 1,818,380):

• Christopher O’Connell (Q) beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry: 6-4, 7-6 (5)
• Brandon Nakashima beat Frances Tiafoe (7): 7-5, 6-3
• Ben Shelton (8) beat Reilly Opelka: 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
• Alex Michelsen (Q) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (4): 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
• Tomas Machac beat Alexei Popyrin: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5
• Yoshihito Nishioka beat Felix Auger-Aliassime: 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5)
• Jack Draper beat Mattia Bellucci (Q): 6-4, 6-2
• Tommy Paul (5) beat Matteo Arnaldi: 6-3, 6-2
• Ugo Humbert beat Shintaro Mochizuki (WC): 6-1, 6-2
• Hubert Hurkacz (2) beat Marcos Giron: 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4
• Matteo Berrettini beat Botic van de Zandschulp (Q): 6-3, 6-4
• Mariano Navone beat Luciano Darderi: 6-4, 6-4
• Casper Ruud vs. Jordan Thompson
• Marin Cilic vs. Kei Nishikori
• Taylor Fritz vs. Arthur Fils