SHANGHAI, October 7. /TASS/. Russia’s Roman Safiullin defeated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the first round of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournament in Shanghai on Wednesday.

Safiullin, a qualifier at the tournament, won 7-5, 6-3. Hijikata was unseeded. Safiullin will face Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, the 21st seed, in the second round.

Safiullin, 29, is 79th in the ATP Rankings. He has yet to win an ATP title.

The Shanghai tournament is a Masters event, with only the Grand Slams and ATP Finals considered more prestigious. The total prize fund is $9.4 million. Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot won the tournament last year. Russian champions include Nikolay Davydenko in 2009 and Daniil Medvedev in 2019.