Pakistan, Oct. 9 -- Stefanos Tsitsipas beat qualifier Kimmer Coppejans 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday in a first-round match at the Shanghai Masters, continuing his slow climb back up the ATP rankings.

Tsitsipas, who reached a career-high No. 3 ranking in 2021, had to win two qualifying matches to get into the main draw at last week's Japan Open, where he lost in the second round. At his previous tournament, the U.S. Open, he lost in the fourth round to eventual finalist Ben Shelton.

After slipping to No. 87 mid-year, the two-time major finalist has worked his way up to 43.

Bernard Tomic, a 33-year-old qualifier also attempting a much more daunting move up in the rankings, lost to Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-1 in another first-round match.

Tomic, who...