Tokyo, Japan (Sports Network) - Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic and
Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka were among the winners Monday in the first
round of the Japan Open.
The second-seeded Berdych rolled through the first set and earned a 6-1, 7-6
(8-6) victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire, while the seventh-seeded Wawrinka
went the distance in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Japanese wild card Hiroki
Moriya.
Berdych won this title in 2008 and is one of two former Japan Open champions
in this week's field. Top-seeded Andy Murray is the other, having won the
title last year.
Murray is playing his first tournament since capturing the U.S. Open last
month for his first career Grand Slam title. He'll have a difficult first
match on Tuesday against Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Other winners Monday on a limited schedule were Viktor Troicki of Serbia and
Slovakia's Lukas Lacko. Troicki eased past Dutchman Robin Haase, 6-2, 6-3,
while Lacko thumped Spain's Albert Ramos, 6-0, 6-2, in a mere 59 minutes.
The winner of this event will claim a first prize of $308,000.
The Sports Network