Former Champs Win, Federer Blogs at ATP Tokyo
Posted on October 3, 2006
A pair of former champions in Jiri Novak and Kenneth Carlsen earned first round wins Monday at the ATP stop in Tokyo.
Novak, who beat American Taylor Dent in the 2004 final, knocked out Czech compatriot Robin Vik 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while the 2002 champion Carlsen also needed three sets to defeated local wildcard Gouichi Motomura 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2.
Novak will next battle the No. 4 seed Andy Murray. The No. 3 seed Mario Ancic awaits Carlsen.
Japan's Takao Suzuki, who's returning to the tour after a shoulder injury, posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Simon Greul. Suzuki, a quarterfinalist in 2001, will next meet No. 8 seed Paradorn Srichaphan.
Also Monday, Frank Dancevic, Edgardo Massa, Kristian Pless and Yeu-Tzuoo Wang won first-round matches on day one at the Ariake Colosseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park.
The top seed at the event is Roger Federer, who met with the Crown Prince of Japan Prince Naruhito on Saturday.
"We went to one of his guest palaces," Federer wrote in his ATP blog. "He had two claycourts back there. I warmed up with him and I was surprised how well he played. Then I played with another junior as he took a rest and then I asked the Prince if he'd like to play some doubles. He was excited about that and we played a set together, which was a lot of fun and we won! I must admit that the Prince hit some fantastic winners and was a great partner."
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