After experiencing two consecutive losses, Tsitsipas bounced back by defeating Australian and World No. 75 Hijikata in his opening match at the Shanghai tournament.
The victory marked his 43rd win of the season (43-18) and the 292nd win of his career. This win also signified his first triumph in this year's Asian swing. In the second set, Tsitsipas was particularly impressive, reducing his mistakes to almost half of the first set (11-5) and hitting nearly twice as many winners (11-20).
Additionally, he showcased his skills at the net with a solid performance of 13 out of 14 successful net approaches.