Japanese teen advances in Tokyo

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO -- Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori returned to the tournament where he made his debut last year, beating American Robert Kendrick 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-2 Tuesday to reach the second round of the Japan Open.

Nishikori, who is ranked 84th and advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open, will next meet Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Wednesday.

Top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, the defending champion, has a first-round bye along with second-seeded American Andy Roddick.

Nishikori defeated James Blake at Delray Beach, Fla., in February to win his first ATP singles title. He ousted Ferrer in the third round of the U.S. Open before falling to Juan Martin del Potro.

Nishikori lost in the first round in Japan last year. The 18-year-old Japanese said his experience in the past year has made him a better player.

"It's a huge relief to win here in Japan," he said. "Last year, I was very nervous and couldn't play my game. This year I was nervous too but was able to settle down and I think that's a result of the confidence I've built up in the last year."

Nishikori has given the men's game a boost in Japan. Until his win this year, the country had not had a winner in men's singles on the ATP Tour since Shuzo Matsuoka won in South Korea in 1992.

In the women's bracket, 17-year-old Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocked out third-seeded Zheng Jie of China 6-1, 6-2, while Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic eliminated fourth-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Pavlyuchenkova advanced to the second round against Japanese qualifier Rika Fujiwara. Zakopalova will take on Poland's Marta Domachowska.

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark rallied from a set down to defeat Gisela Dulko of Argentina 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. Wozniacki's next opponent will be Japanese wild card Ayumi Morita.

Israel's Shahar Peer, seeded sixth, defeated Japan's Kimiko Krumm Date 6-3, 6-1. The 38-year-old Date, who made her comeback to pro tennis this year, won this tournament four times in the 1990s.

Nishikori took control when he broke Kendrick with a crosscourt forehand to go ahead 3-2 in the third set. He won won when Kendrick's return in the final game was long.

"He's got a very good serve," Nishikori said. "I knew I just had to wait for a chance and finally I got it in the third set and was able to break him."

In other first-round matches, Croatia's Roko Karanusic defeated Japanese qualifier Hiroki Kondo 6-2, 6-2. Karanusic will next play No. 9 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

Wayne Odesnik of the U.S. downed compatriot Kevin Kim 6-4, 6-3 to set up a match with Serbia's Viktor Troicki. Jesse Levine of the U.S. rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 win over Thailand's Danai Udomchoke. Levine will face Ferrer in the second round.