Roberto Bautista Agut, Denis Shapovalov, and Richard Gasquet Exit in First Round of ASB Classic

Agut's defeat comes after a lengthy recovery from a horse-riding injury, while Shapovalov's loss marks his return from a knee injury.

Two-time champion Roberto Bautista Agut was defeated by fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Agut, who won the Auckland title in 2016 and 2018, had missed a substantial part of the 2023 season due to a horse-riding injury and appeared a little rusty in his match.
Former No. 10-ranked Denis Shapovalov also lost in the first round in his first competitive match back since a fourth-round loss at Wimbledon in July due to a knee injury.
Defending champion Richard Gasquet also made a first-round exit, losing to sixth-seeded Arthur Fils. This loss will result in Gasquet dropping out of the top 100 for the first time since April 2005.
Roberto Carballes Baena will face seventh-seeded Sebastian Ofner in the second round, who defeated Denis Shapovalov.