In a surprising turn of events at the 2024 ATP Winston-Salem, the tournament saw a series of unexpected results that left fans buzzing. Despite a field that seemed evenly matched, none of the top nine seeds managed to advance, a rarity that added an extra layer of intrigue to the competition.
Sebastian Baez faced off against Borna Coric, but couldn't find his rhythm, falling 3-6, 4-6. Meanwhile, Jack Draper's withdrawal opened the door for Roman Safiullin to step in as a seeded player. Francisco Cerundolo was bested by Zachary Svadja, who claimed a 4-6, 4-6 victory.
Adrian Mannarino engaged in a three-set battle with Aleksandar Vukic, ultimately succumbing 6-7, 6-2, 1-6. Luciano Darderi faced David Goffin and was unable to overcome the challenge, losing 2-6, 4-6. Tomas Martin Etcheverry pushed Zizou Bergs to three sets but fell short with a 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 result.
Mariano Navone's efforts against Juncheng Shang ended in a 5-7, 3-6 defeat, while Nuno Borges couldn't get past Thiago Seyboth Wild, losing 6-7, 2-6. Fabian Marozsan and Learner Tien battled through three sets, with Marozsan narrowly losing 2-6, 7-6, 6-7.
Amidst these upsets, Lorenzo Sonego emerged victorious in his match against Dominik Stricker, marking a bright spot in an otherwise tumultuous tournament for the seeds.
Winston-Salem stands out as the only ATP 250 event featuring more than eight seeds, adding a unique twist to the competition. With all top seeds, including Draper, out after their initial matches, the tournament has taken an unexpected and exciting direction, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.