BEIJING: Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the China Open by defeating German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2 on Tuesday in his first match since losing the US Open final.
Third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga downed Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), firing 14 aces.
Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny beat seventh-seeded German Tommy Haas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Among the women, Li Na defeated Russian Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-2, and Marion Bartoli overcame Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita, 6-4, 6-3. Jelena Jankovic downed Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-1.
Meanwhile, at the Japan Open in Tokyo, Andy Murray opened the defense of his Japan Open title by beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday.
Murray withstood 17 aces from Karlovic at Ariake Colosseum.
Gael Monfils of France, who was scheduled to be Murray’s opponent, withdrew with a right knee injury he aggravated in Beijing last week, and was replaced by lucky loser Karlovic. Monfils is returning to Paris to have his knee examined.
”Playing against him you know it is going to be uncomfortable,” Murray said. ”He is a tricky player.”
In other matches, sixth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4, while eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan ousted compatriot Go Soeda 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Tommy Robredo of Spain topped Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-2, 6-4; Jeremy Chardy of France downed wild card Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-1, 7-5; and qualifier Dmitry Tursunov of Russia dispatched Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 7-5.
Davis Cup final dates announced
Tuesday also saw the dates of the Davis Cup final announced between the Czech Republic and defending champion Spain.
It will be held in Prague from November 16-18.
Spain will be chasing its fourth Davis Cup title in five years, including a 5-0 sweep of the Czechs at home in 2009. The Czechs won their only Cup title as Czecho-slovakia in 1980. (AP)