Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100262122600.htm

Sport - Tennis

Kei Nishikori continues with his top form

— PHOTO: AP

MOVING UP: Kei Nishikori beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets to reach the third round of the Japan Open.

TOKYO: Japan’s teenage sensation Kei Nishikori continued with his top form on Wednesday with a straight sets victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to reach the third round of the Japan Open.

The 18-year-old Nishikori, one of only two Japanese players to win an ATP title, played aggressive tennis to down the Spanish 16th seed 6-4, 6-4.

David Ferrer, who was beaten in his first match last week in Beijing, returned to his winning ways earlier in the day with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Jesse Levine of the USA.

American second seed Andy Roddick, fresh from winning at Beijing last weekend, had to work hard against Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic before prevailing 7-6(11), 6-7(4), 7-6(2) in two hours 35 minutes.

The results: At Tokyo: Japan Open: Men: Second round: Richard Gasquet bt Martin Slanar 6-4, 6-2; Tommy Robredo bt Joseph Sirianni 6-2, 6-2; Mikhail Youzhny bt Flavio Cipolla 6-2, 6-2; Tomas Berdych bt Roko Karanusic 6-3, 6-4; Takao Suzuki bt Simone Bolelli 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5); Amer Delic bt Sam Querrey 7-6(5), 6-3; Kei Nishikori bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-4; Viktor Troicki bt Wayne Odesnik 6-2, 6-1; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Bobby Reynolds 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4; Jarkko Nieminen bt Cecil Mamiit 7-6(7), 6-4; David Ferrer bt Jesse Levine 6-4, 4-6, 6-1; Rainer Schuettler bt Lee Hyung-taik 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3; Juergen Melzer bt Simon Stadler 6-2, 6-3; Andy Roddick bt Ivo Minar 7-6(11), 6-7(4), 7-6(2); Richard Gasquet bt Martin Slanar 6-4, 6-2.

Women: Second round: Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Camille Pin 6-2, 6-2; Kaia Kanepi bt Yanina Wickmayer 3-6, 6-1, 6-0; Jarmila Gajdosova bt Shahar Peer 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (9).

First round: Anabel Medina Garrigues bt Chan Yung-jan 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Samantha Stosur bt Vania King 6-2, retired.

At Metz: Open do Moselle: Second round: Nicolas Mahut bt Gilles Simon 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Eduardo Schwank bt Nicolas Almagro 7-6(5), 6-2; Ivo Karlovic bt Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 2-1 (retd.); Paul-Henri Mathieu bt Nicolas Devilder 6-0, 6-2. — Agencies