Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz were riding high after stellar performances at the US Open—Tiafoe making it to the semifinals, while Fritz finished as the runner-up. Fans had high hopes that these American stars, along with other top ATP players, would light up the courts during the Asian swing, creating a thrilling finale for the 2024 season. But tennis is as unpredictable as ever, and the Japan Open has served up more than its fair share of surprises.

As the tennis spotlight shifts to Asia, China and Japan are at the center of the action. In China, things are unfolding smoothly with Jannik Sinner cruising through rounds and Carlos Alcaraz gearing up to take the stage. But over in Japan, the tournament has taken a dramatic turn. The top stars—Tiafoe, Fritz, Tsitsipas, and Ruud—have all made shocking first-round exits, leaving fans in disbelief.

Tiafoe, who was in fine form during the hard court season, was expected to make a deep run in Tokyo. However, fellow American Brandon Nakashima had other plans. In a shocking upset, Nakashima bested Tiafoe in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. This was a particularly stunning result, as Tiafoe had dominated all of their previous encounters. But it seems Nakashima finally cracked the code, ending Tiafoe’s run in Tokyo before it even began.

Tiafoe wasn’t the only one facing an early exit. Taylor Fritz, his US Open semifinal opponent, also fell in the first round. Fritz fought hard after dropping the first set to Arthur Fils, managing to level the match in the second set. But in the decisive third set, Fils regained control and outlasted Fritz, knocking out another American favorite.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been struggling to find consistency this season, hoped Tokyo would offer a fresh start. He opened his campaign with a strong first set against Alex Michelsen, but it all fell apart as Michelsen stormed back, dominating the next two sets 6-1, 6-2, and sending Tsitsipas packing. Casper Ruud faced a similar fate, as Australian Jordan Thompson dispatched him in straight sets, denying the Norwegian any chance of getting back on track.

It’s not just the losses that stunned fans—it’s the fact that so many top players, fresh off strong performances, have faltered so early. Expectations were sky-high, yet the tournament has delivered an almost complete clean sweep of big names, leaving the tennis world reeling.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for American tennis at the Japan Open. Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul are still in the hunt, keeping hopes alive for a strong finish.

After Taylor Fritz’s fall, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul carry the American torch at the Japan Open

Though nobody anticipated that the American wall in Taylor Fritz and Tiafoe would fall without putting up a tough challenge. However, their opponents got the better of both the top American stars at Tokyo, and now the hopes of the nation rest on the young guns, Shelton and Paul. Both the players have had an amazing year. While Shelton is coming high on a Laver Cup win against Daniil Medvedev, Paul has displayed amazing tennis skills throughout the season as he claimed the Queen’s Club title during the grass season.

In Tokyo, both the players have sailed smoothly through the R1 of the tournament. While Shelton ousted fellow compatriot, Reilly Opelka, Paul got the better of Italian Matteo Arnaldi to carry on his campaign. Though they are not the only American sailing in the tournament, Brandon Nakashima and Alex Michelsen are also there.

With Fritz losing after delivering at the Laver Cup, it would be interesting to see how far can American stars carry their campaign at the Japan Open.