Djokovic, Tsonga gain at China Open

BEIJING: Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the China Open by defeating German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2 yesterday in his first match since losing the US Open final.
The Serb is a two-time winner in Beijing and remained undefeated at the tournament after converting both his break points in the third set, and holding his own serve throughout the match.
Third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced by beating Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3) with the help of 14 aces, while Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny beat seventh-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
In other first-round matches, Nikolay Davydenko defeated qualifier Alex Bogomolov Jr. 7-5, 6-1 in an all-Russian matchup, Jurgen Melzer of Austria hit 12 aces to beat Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (3), and Andreas Seppi of Italy advanced when Julien Benneteau of France had to retire with an injury to his right arm while trailing 6-1, 2-0.
In the second round of the women’s tournament, top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska both advanced with straight-set victories.
Azarenka beat Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-4, 6-2 while Radwanska ousted Chinese wild-card entry Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3.
Chinese home favorite Li Na easily dispatched Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-1, 6-2, and the former French Open champion said she has improved under new coach Carlos Rodriguez.
“He’s not only teaching me how to play better tennis, he’s teaching me how to be on the court,” Li said. “Before I would explode easily on the court; I think I’ve changed a lot since we’ve started working together.”
In other women’s matches, fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber, No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki and former top-ranked Jelena Jankovic all advanced.
Murray blows out cobwebs on return in Tokyo
In Tokyo, defending champion Andy Murray blew out the cobwebs with a 7-6, 6-4 win over towering Croat Ivo Karlovic yesterday in his first match since winning last month’s US Open.
The Olympic gold medallist had been scheduled to face Gael Monfils in the first round of the $1.28 million hardcourt event but the Frenchman pulled out with a knee injury.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori survived a fright against countryman Go Soeda, the eighth seed squeaking through 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to the relief of Tokyo organizers in two hours, 29 minutes.
Murray got a workout from 2.08 meters Karlovic and was forced into a tiebreak in the first set which the Scot took 9-7 with a superb running forehand pass down the line.
A quick change of wardrobe and Murray, now in all black, waited for his moment in the second as Karlovic slammed down 18 aces, converting his third match point with a vicious backhand to the Croatian’s body after one hour, 38 minutes.
Nishikori, who reached his first semi-final of the year in Kuala Lumpur last week, next plays Spaniard Tommy Robredo, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen.
Big serving Milos Raonic hit 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Czech Radek Stepanek, sending the Canadian through to face Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.