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The road to the Shanghai Rolex Masters commenced last week, with 18-year-old Yoshihito Nishioka claiming his maiden ATP Challenger Tour crown in the Chinese metropolis. In what was a history-making weekend for Japanese tennis, Nishioka clinched the title just hours after countryman Kei Nishikori reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. The youngster, who had qualified for his first major in New York a week prior, saved a match point in defeat of No. 2 seed Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) in Sunday's final. Devvarman saved a match point of his own in the second set and served for the match at 5-3 in the decider, but was denied after three hours and four minutes - the longest final of the year on the Challenger circuit.

At 18 years and 11 months, Nishioka is the youngest Japanese titlist since Nishikori hoisted his first trophy in Bermuda in 2008. He is the fourth teenager to triumph this year and second in as many weeks, following Hyeon Chung's title run in Bangkok. The Japanese rose 78 spots to No. 167 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

The first weekend of September was one to remember for Japanese tennis. Yoshihito Nishioka clinched his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Shanghai just hours after countryman Kei Nishikori reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open.

Nishioka, who had qualified for his first major in New York the week prior, saved a match point in defeat of No. 2 seed Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) in the final in the Chinese metropolis. At 18 years and 11 months, Nishioka was the youngest Japanese titlist on the Challenger circuit since Nishikori hoisted his first trophy in Bermuda in 2008.

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144 Victor Hanescu ROU 375
145 Yoshihito Nishioka JPN 366
146 Facundo Arguello ARG 363

“I’m so happy,” said Nishioka, who capitalised on five of his nine break point chances in the 69-minute match. “At the beginning I was so nervous, but I think he was nervous, too. I just try to make every ball; every shot I was focused on it.”