Tennis: Men's ASB Classic updates: Day One

Denis Shapovalov. Photo / Photosport

Rising star Denis Shapovalov has shown why he is such an exciting prospect, with a fantastic first-up performance at the ASB Classic.

Shapovalov has impressed in his opening round match against Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva, with the Canadian teenager claiming a 6-3 6-2 victory in just 54 minutes on centre court.

The most improved player on tour in 2017, Shapovalov looked in control throughout, with the entertaining leftie sauntering around the court and looking effortless with some of the strokes unleashed.

The one-handed backhand was a particular delight, while Shapovalov's whippy serve was hard to contain.

He smacked nine aces and won 92 per cent of his serves which went in, giving Dutra Silva no chance of snaring an elusive break. Additionally, he had no problems breaking serve, nailing all three of his break point opportunities.

Shapovalov was pleased with his performance.

"I'm playing with a lot of confidence - I played really well today, serving really big, and that gave me the confidence to free up on my shots and I think I played the perfect match."

A massive task awaits him in the second round, with Shapovalov taking on the biggest name in the draw - and a man he has beaten before - Juan Martin Del Potro.

Shapovalov is excited for the challenge, in what looms as the match of the tournament.

"I beat him back then but it was a while ago and he's playing great tennis - he's a champion so it's going to be a really great match. It's going to be tough, but I'm going to give it my best shot."

8.45pm: New Zealand's Michael Venus has been outclassed in his first round match at the ASB Classic.

Venus has gone down 6-2, 6-1 to 2016 champion Roberto Bautista Agut, with his serve - usually a strength of his game - being negated by the strength of the Spaniard's return game.

Venus' serve was broken straight away in the first set, and while he had three break points to answer straight back, he could not convert any of them, giving Bautista Agut the early initiative.

Venus took his next opportunity, impressively breaking back to get back on level terms, but he couldn't keep it up, with the classy Bautista Agut hitting some splendid shots to regain control.

The Spaniard kept it up, quickly wrapping up the first set, and the procession continued in the second, needing only 56 minutes to progress to the second round.

7.10pm: Karen Khachanov is through to the second round at the ASB Classic, after a topsy-turvy three set victory over Yuichi Sugita.

Khachanov recovered from losing the second set to eventually claim a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory.

The end came suddenly, with the rising Russian earning two quick set points on Sugita's serve, and converting the second to claim the match-winning break.

The 21-year-old next plays the winner of the match between Pablo Cuevas and Guido Pella in the second round.

Next up on centre court is the local hope, with Michael Venus taking on 2016 champion Roberto Bautista-Agut.

Also, after eighth seed Andrey Rublev was ruled out earlier today, promising Brit Kyle Edmund has also withdrawn with an ankle injury. He will be replaced by lucky loser Tennys Sandgren, who will play Hyeon Chung tomorrow night.

6.24pm: The day session stretches on at the ASB Classic, with Yuichi Sugita bouncing back to send his first round match against Karen Khachanov to a third set.

Sugita has claimed the second set 6-3 - a big turnaround following Khachanov's comprehensive first set showing, which he won 6-1.

Who will win the third set? Nobody has a clue.

5.49pm: After two lengthy clashes to start the day at the ASB Classic, Karen Khachanov has other plans.

Khachanov has romped through his first set against Yuichi Sugita, winning it 6-1 in just 21 minutes on centre court.

The powerful young Russian has blasted four aces and generally overpowered his Japanese rival, and is on track for the quickest game of the day.

5.05pm: Once again, David Ferrer is into the second round at the ASB Classic.

It wasn't close to vintage Ferrer, though that can hardly be expected at age 35. Instead, he had to battle for two hours on centre court to beat world number 314 Wu Yibing, 7-6(7), 6-4.

The four-time champion was challenged by the 18-year-old, with Wu hitting some tremendous shots but lacking the consistency to get past the wily veteran.

It was a game of rallies, with neither player possessing a punishing first serve, creating an entertaining contest where Wu displayed his potential as a star of the future.

Ferrer will play Joao Sousa in the second round, while next up on centre court, Karen Khachanov takes on Yuichi Sugita.

4.24pm: Four-time ASB Classic champion David Ferrer has won the first set of his first round encounter, but he's had to seriously work for it.

Ferrer has edged teenage wildcard Wu Yibing 7-6(7) in a marathon first set, which took an hour and 15 minutes to complete.

Ranked 314 in the world, the 18-year-old Wu is a junior Grand Slam champion, and he showed his immense potential with some ridiculous passing shots.

He had his chance to win the set as well, coming from 4-0 down in the tiebreak to lead 6-4, but he couldn't convert, and eventually a double fault finally clinched the first set for Ferrer.

2.47pm: 2017 runner-up Joao Sousa is still alive in the 2018 ASB Classic.

Sousa lost the first set to Donald Young, but came back to claim a 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-2 victory in two hours on centre court.

The 28-year-old made it to the final last year without losing a set, before going down to Jack Sock in a three-setter, but his path has already been tougher this year after a tight battle with Young.

However, Sousa impressed on serve, hitting nine aces with no double faults, and winning 92 per cent of the points when he got his first serve in play.

He had 14 break points, and while Young saved 10 of them, eventually Sousa's edge shone through. His second round opponent will be the winner of the next match on centre court, between four-time champion David Ferrer and promising Chinese wildcard Wu Yibing.

2.12pm: The first match of the men's ASB Classic is going to a third and deciding set.

Joao Sousa has bounced back to win the second set of his match against Donald Young, 6-4.

Sousa won 87 per cent of points on his serve in the second set, and broke Young in the first game to comfortably claim the set and send it to a decider.

1.38pm: Donald Young has come from 4-1 down to claim the first set against 2017 runner-up Joao Sousa in an enthralling tiebreak.

Young dug himself out of a hole in two occasions - being broken to go down 4-1, and, after he broke back to level the contest, also being down 4-1 in the tiebreaker.

However, he battled through in the first match of the tournament, facing numerous set points to win the tiebreaker 10-8, and finishing it with an emphatic ace.

12.20pm: After a rain-disrupted women's tournament concluded yesterday, the men's ASB Classic looks set for a largely uninterrupted week of quality tennis.

The event has drawn several top players in a field which is stronger than the women's tournament, with US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro and a trio of top Americans - Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and John Isner - the top four seeds for the event.

While none of the big names get their tournaments underway until Wednesday, there is still plenty of talent on display as things kick off today.

Last year's runner-up - Joao Sousa - starts proceedings on centre court, playing American Donald Young, before four-time champion David Ferrer takes on promising Chinese wildcard Wu Yibing.

Another young talent follows in the final match of the day session, with Karen Khachanov playing Japan's Yuichi Sugita, who had a breakthrough 2017.

However, the big drawcards are held back for the night session. Kiwi Michael Venus, who had a fantastic doubles season in 2017, has the toughest draw possible against world number 20 and 2016 champion Roberto Bautista Agut.

Then, to finish the night, one of the brightest prospects in men's tennis, Denis Shapovalov, caps off proceedings against Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva.

There has been a late change to the draw as well, with eighth seed Andrey Rublev withdrawing with a right arm injury. He has been replaced in the main draw by lucky loser Lukas Lacko, who will play wildcard Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round.