After two-day delay, Taylor Fritz up and running in Shanghai; Tiafoe, Giron also win

Three Americans posted wins at the Rolex Shanghai Masters Monday, including US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.

With rain having pushed his opening match back two days, Fritz finally had his chance to step on court at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Pushed by qualifier Terence Atmane, the No. 7 seed advanced with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) victory.

“It's tough to get ready three days in a row to play a match, and not even be sure if you're actually going to play,” Fritz told press afterwards. “So it was great to know that today was happening.”

Fritz saved two break points at 4-4 in the opening set and held off the Frenchman in the second set when he was two points from forcing a decider. Atmane won three more total points and produced 29 winners to Fritz’s 26 in defeat.

“Definitely happy with how I played, but I wouldn't necessarily say I felt like I had everything under control, because he was serving big and firing off a lot of winners. There was a lot of points where I feel like I didn't do anything wrong, but I was still losing,” said Fritz, who now faces another qualifier in Yosuke Watanuki.

Frances Tiafoe and Marcos Giron also moved through. Tiafoe dispatched Zhou Yi, 6-2, 6-4, converting three of his four break point chances. The No. 13 seed faces Roman Safiullin for a spot in the round of 16 after the Russian knocked out 23rd seed Alexander Bublik, 6-4, 6-2.

“I think he's a super dark horse. He can beat a lot of guys,” said Tiafoe about his next opponent. “Obviously he's had an up-and-down season, but he's very, very capable.”

Giron eliminated 24th-seeded Karen Khachanov, 6-4, 6-3. The 30-year-old did not drop his serve, firing eight aces along the way.

The world No. 47 entered the event with just one victory in eight attempts at the Masters 1000 level this season, but Giron can now up that win total to four if he gets past David Goffin in the third round. The Belgian rallied from a set and a break down to oust No. 15 seed Lorenzo Musetti, 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Musetti’s countryman Matteo Berrettini also bowed out from a set up, as 12th seed Holger Rune battled to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. The Dane is coming off a semifinal showing in Tokyo.