Japan Open Tennis Championships: Four Players Withdraw From Event

One of the ATP’s oldest tournaments, the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, will begin its 51st edition on Wednesday. With a stacked entry list, it promises to be a great event. Six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe are among those who have committed to playing. The entry list was even stronger before four withdrawals, including two Top Ten players.

Four Players Withdraw From Japan Open Tennis Championships

Which players have withdrawn?

Former champion Ben Shelton was among those to withdraw from the Japan Open Tennis Championships. He won his maiden ATP title at the 2023 iteration, defeating Aslan Karatsev in the final. The world No. 6 has been absent since injuring his shoulder in the US Open third round against Adrian Mannarino. Shelton missed the Davis Cup and Laver Cup, and the event in Tokyo has been added to the list.

Jack Draper was the other Top 10 player to withdraw from the Japan Tennis Championships. The Briton withdrew from the US Open before the second round with an arm injury. After assessing the problem’s severity, Draper announced he would miss the remainder of the 2025 season. That means he cannot play at next month’s Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, where Stefanos Tsitsipas replaced him.

Jiri Lehecka was the third player to withdraw from the Japan Tennis Championships’ entry list. His last appearance was in the Davis Cup second round, helping to steer the Czech Republic into November’s finals. No official reason has been given for the withdrawal. Lehecka’s next appearance will be at the Shanghai Masters.

Alexei Popyrin also withdrew. The Australian most recently played at the US Open, where he lost comprehensively in the second round to Jannik Sinner. Neither he nor the tournament provided any explanation for the move.

Who replaces those players on the entry list?

Hamad Medjedovic replaces Ben Shelton at the Japan Open Tennis Championships. The 22-year-old lost a thrilling five-set opening-round match at the US Open against Daniel Altmaier, who went on to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round. He also reached his second ATP final earlier this season in Marseille, losing to Ugo Humbert. Fabian Marozsan was initially going to take the place, but he elected to sign up for the event in Beijing instead.

Marcos Giron is on the entry list for the Japan Open Tennis Championships. The American made a solid start to the Asian swing, narrowly losing in the Chengdu Open quarterfinal against his compatriot Brandon Nakashima. Two years ago, Giron came agonizingly close to reaching the final in Tokyo, losing from a set and 5-2 up against Shelton.

Daniel Altmaier takes Lehecka’s spot. His wins against Medjedovic and Tsitsipas at Flushing Meadows showed how formidable he can be. Those efforts caught up with him in the third round against Alex de Minaur when he retired in the third set, but it was still an impressive run from the German.

Jenson Brooksby was the final player to move onto the Japan Open Tennis Championships’ entry list. He has responded well since returning from a suspension for missing three doping tests by winning the title in Houston and progressing to another final in Eastbourne. The 24-year-old possesses a unique style and is always enjoyable to watch.