Kecmanovic hits ATP Masters 1000 milestone with opening Shanghai win

Miomir Kecmanovic completed his box set of at least one match win at all nine ATP Masters 1000s with his opening victory Thursday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Serbian defeated Rinky Hijikata 6-2 6-2 to record his first hard-court win in more than a year, since last August in Toronto.

Kecmanovic, who hit a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 27 in January 2023, could re-enter the Top 50 with a deep run in Shanghai. He will next meet another Aussie in 20th seed Alexei Popyrin, who is competing in his second event since upsetting Novak Djokovic during a breakthrough run to the US Open fourth round.

The 25-year-old Kecmanovic did not face a break point in the 79-minute match against Hijikata, evening the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series at at 1-1. He took advantage of five Hijikata double faults, including one on match point, to break serve six times on 10 chances, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Also in early action, 19-year-old Chinese wild card Yi Zhou advanced past Yoshihito Nishioka when the Japanese player retired with a back injury after building a 4-2 lead. The home favourite, who is up to 25th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, will next meet 13th seed Frances Tiafoe.

All class ?

Yi Zhou's message for Yoshihito Nishioka after his opponent was forced to retire due to injury at 4-2. @SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/m41K6o9LES

David Goffin advanced past James Duckworth with a 6-4, 6-2 win to open play on Grandstand 2. The 33-year-old Belgian saved three of four break points to see home the straight-sets result. Jaume Munar was a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Hugo Gaston, but not before the Frenchman produced an early contender for shot of the tournament with a half-volley tweener to start the second set.