Qualifying action has officially concluded at the ATP 500 Japan Open in Tokyo, with four players booking their tickets to the main draw after two highly competitive rounds. The seeded players largely held firm, though reaching the tournament’s main stage required resilience and clutch shot-making in the critical moments.
Top qualifying seed Arthur Fils was tested right from the opening round. After dropping the first set against American Martin Damm, the Frenchman elevated his level to storm back with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory. In the final round, he met Kamil Majchrzak, who had previously eliminated Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 6-2. Fils once again demonstrated composure: after taking the opening set and seeing Majchrzak level the match in the second, he dominated the deciding set to claim a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory and seal his spot in the main draw.
The biggest name in the qualifying field, Stefanos Tsitsipas, navigated his section cleanly without dropping a single set. The Greek star opened with a composed 7-5, 6-2 win over home favorite Yoshihito Nishioka, effectively silencing the partisan crowd in the crucial games. In the qualifying final, he faced Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, who had dispatched Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-2, 6-3. Tsitsipas dictated the tempo from the baseline, converted his break opportunities efficiently, and closed out a 6-4, 6-3 win to confirm his place among the final 32.
The greatest drama unfolded in the third section, won by Paraguay’s young talent Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Vallejo opened his campaign with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win against experienced local wildcard Taro Daniel, setting up a clash with Portugal’s Jaime Faria, who had defeated Shintaro Mochizuki 6-2, 6-4. The final showdown turned into a grueling three-set thriller. After Vallejo took the opener, Faria fought back to claim the second set. In the closing stages of the decider, Vallejo held his nerve to secure a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 triumph.
The fourth and final spot went to Spain’s Jaume Munar, who showcased his trademark fighting spirit and tactical discipline. In the qualifying semifinals, Munar rallied from a set down against dangerous American Marcos Giron to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. He met Aleksandar Kovacevic in the final round, following the American’s tight three-set win over Zachary Svajda (6-7, 6-2, 6-4). With a main draw ticket at stake, Munar kept unforced errors to a minimum, controlled the baseline exchanges, and recorded a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory.
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