Carlos Alcaraz dismantled Reilly Opelka in straight sets to reach the second round.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner reached the semi-finals of the ATP Finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over two-times winner Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, with Ben Shelton eliminated after losing earlier to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the same group.
Sinner's coach Darren Cahill said the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion was suffering from a virus.
Sinner's retirement and world number one Alcaraz's withdrawal due to an ankle injury blows the draw wide open, with Djokovic in the hunt for a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai.
Just nine days after his loss to Fritz, which snapped his 13-match unbeaten streak, the world number one defeated the American 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets, capping an incredible debut at the ATP 500 event and securing his career-best 67th season win, continuing a dream season.
Japan Open: Alcaraz survives ankle injury scare, advances to second round
Jannik Sinner said he had to prioritise preparations for his Australian Open title defence.
'Like any player he has weaknesses, but he's improving them all the time.'
Italy captured a remarkable third consecutive Davis Cup title on Sunday with Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli winning their singles matches for a 2-0 triumph over Spain.
Six-times champions Spain edged past Germany 2-1 on Saturday to reach their first Davis Cup final since 2019 after their doubles pair of Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez clinched a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the decisive match.
Australian Alex de de Minaur advanced to the semi-finals, where he will face Jannik Sinner.
Jannik Sinner began his bid to retain the ATP Finals title with a resounding 7-5, 6-1 win over injury-hit Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in their round-robin clash.
On any other occasion, there would have been a build-up of excitement from cricket fans. But not this time.
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the last four of the ATP Finals with a 6-4, 7-6(4) round-robin win over two-times winner Alexander Zverev on Friday and Jannik Sinner extended his indoor hardcourt unbeaten run by beating American Ben Shelton.
He also overtook his career-best 65-season win tally of 2023 with this win.
The first week of the Open (Jan 12-17) will also feature free entry for kids and nightly live music at Grand Slam Oval, with the main draw running January 18-February 1.
'The number one (ranking) is a goal that I had set myself almost at the beginning of the year and to see that I have achieved it is something incredible.'
Jannik Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to win the Paris Masters for the first time on Sunday.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner defeated Daniel Altmaier to avenge a loss two years ago at the French Open as he marched into the third round of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the German.
Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired while trailing 5-0 in the first set of their final on Monday.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the US Open final than Carlos Alcaraz while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday.
Sinner will face 19-year-old Learner Tien for the title.
Novak Djokovic has no plans to retire from tennis with the 24-times Grand Slam winner citing NBA great LeBron James, former NFL player Tom Brady and veteran footballer Cristiano Ronaldo as his inspiration to keep playing.
Sachin Tendulkar was snapped, flanked by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg, who has won 11 majors.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals to ignite their charge on Tuesday.
Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu are generating major excitement - not just for their upcoming mixed doubles debut at the US Open
US President Donald Trump received a mixed reception of cheers and boos at the US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Sunday.
Top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, playing on his 24th birthday, ended French qualifier Terence Atmane's dream run at the Cincinnati Open with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win on Saturday to reach the final of the US Open tune-up event.
Carlos Alcaraz has revealed the new cropped hairstyle he is sporting at the US Open was the result of his brother mishandling the clippers when he wanted a quick trim.
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a high-octane final to claim his maiden Wimbledon trophy and fourth Grand Slam crown on Sunday.
A clash of nerves, brilliance, and next-gen firepower-Alcaraz showed once again he's made for the biggest stages. As the tennis world erupted, legends led the tributes.
Carlos Alcaraz proved a class above defending champion Jannik Sinner to win the men's singles title at the US Open with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory at the Arthur Ashe stadium, in New York, on Sunday.
Eyeing a sixth Grand Slam title, the Spaniard was eventually too strong for the metronomically consistent Fritz, whose biggest weapons were still not damaging enough to unsettle the second seed under a fiery sun on Centre Court.
Novak Djokovic became the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams in a single season.
Both US Open champions share a fun connection off the court: They were born on the same day, May 5.
Novak Djokovic outclassed American Taylor Fritz to set up a high-voltage semi-final showdown against Carlos Alcaraz.
While Jannik Sinner and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz have won the last seven major titles between them, the Italian cautioned against complacency and pointed to the strength of competition in the ATP Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz fought back from the brink to outlast top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday to retain his crown and cement his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland Garros' post-Rafa Nadal era.
The world number two was supreme in the opening two sets but then inexplicably took his foot off the gas before bouncing back from 3-1 down in the fourth set to subdue his 33-year-old opponent for a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.
Carlos Alcaraz heads to the US Open in his now-familiar role as chief challenger to defending champion Jannik Sinner and the Spaniard will be driven this year by the twin pursuit of Grand Slam glory and the World No. 1 ranking.
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