Tomas Machac’s Japan Open campaign fell at the first hurdle as he suffered a shock loss in Tokyo.
The 24-year-old Czech star has had a solid year, most recently reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open, which saw him land a World No. 22 ranking.
Machac acted as a Laver Cup alternate in San Francisco, brushing shoulders with Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Flavio Cobolli.
Despite the star’s recent form, he suffered a shock loss in the first round of the Japan Open to a player ranked over 250 places lower in the ATP Tour rankings.
Tomas Machac loses to World No. 273 Sho Shimabukuro at the Japan Open
Machac was the number five seed in Tokyo and was gifted a kind draw that would have seen him miss a seeded player until the quarter-finals.
The Czech star came unstuck at the first hurdle in Tokyo, losing to a hometown hero at the Ariake Coliseum.
Japanese star Sho Shimabukuro stunned Machac with a straight-sets victory at the tournament’s show court.
The World No. 273 needed just one break of serve to topple Machac, winning the second set with a tense tie-break.
Shimabukuro will play Sebastian Korda in the second round, after the American defeated compatriot Marcos Giron in his opening round match.
The Japan Open provides plenty of shocks in round one
Shimabukuro was not the only player to provide a shock in the first round of the Japan Open, with several other big name stars falling at the first hurdle.
Frances Tiafoe lost to qualifier Márton Fucsovics in three sets to continue the American’s troubled return from injury.
Jenson Brooksby, who entered the tournament on his protected ranking, defeated the number six seed Ugo Humbert, who reached the final in Tokyo last year.
Daniel Altmaier also confirmed his place in the second round of the competition by defeating the number seven seed, Denis Shapovalov.
