Defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta out of ATP Toronto Masters
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Defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta has pulled out of the ATP Toronto Masters.
PHOTO: PABLO CARRENO BUSTA/FACEBOOK
TORONTO – Defending champion Pablo Carreno Busta, Australian Nick Kyrgios and Canadian Denis Shapovalov have all withdrawn from next week’s ATP Toronto Masters, organisers confirmed on Tuesday.
Carreno Busta defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the 2022 final in Montreal to capture the first Masters 1000 title of his career.
But a nagging injury has seen the Spaniard play just four matches this season, most recently a three-set defeat by France’s Richard Gasquet in Rotterdam in February.
Kyrgios, meanwhile, missed Wimbledon and his title defence in Washington this week with a wrist ligament injury.
Organisers said Shapovalov, who made it to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, pulled out because of a knee problem.
In a statement released by the organiers, the home hope said he had been “doing everything possible” to be fit for the tournament but the injury “needs more time”.
As a result of the withdrawals, the organiers added, Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, American J.J. Wolf and Japan’s Kei Nishikori will have automatic entry into the main draw.
The hard-court tournament, one of the key tune-ups for the US Open starting at Flushing Meadows on Aug 28, had already lost world No. 2 Novak Djokovic. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who fell to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, withdrew last Sunday citing fatigue.
Meanwhile at the Washington Open, Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng defeated Ben Shelton for the second time in a week on Tuesday, downing the 14th-seeded American 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the third round.
“I’m definitely very happy right now,” the 18-year-old said.
“Ben is not an easy player to beat. I think I’ve got a game that kind of suits me to playing him.”
Shang, who ousted Shelton 6-4, 6-4 at the Atlanta Open last week, converted five of his nine break-point chances and polished off the victory in 1hr 42min.
“In the past two weeks, I’ve been returning really well,” he added.
“So I think that was the key today, to break a few service games from him.”
The left-hander from Beijing posted his fourth victory in as many days, including two qualifying victories and a first-round triumph over Emilio Gomez.
He had started his year by qualifying for the Australian Open and winning a first-round match but was then slowed by mononucleosis.
Once back on court, he qualified for the French Open, but did not make it out of the first round.
Shang’s reward for Tuesday’s win will be a meeting with American second seed Frances Tiafoe, who opened his campaign with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) win over Russia’s Aslan Karatsev. AFP
