Novak Toughs Out the Typhoon and Taylor Dent for Tokyo Crown

He may not have the star appeal of women’s champion Maria Sharapova, but Jiri Novak’s got game. The fifth-seeded rosy-cheecked Czech defeated Taylor Dent 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 to win the Japan Open men’s singles title.

The win for Novak was his sixth career ATP title and his first since 2003 Gstaad.

``We both started out nervously,'' Novak said. ``But I was able to relax as the match went on and picked up some confidence in the second and third sets.''

The championships match was delayed for 35 minutes in the third set as rain from a powerful typhoon leaked through the roof. In response, organizers opened the roof for the final, which was played under cloudy skies.