Moodie, Fleishman advance at Japan Open
Wesley Moodie
Tokyo, Japan (Sports Network) – South African Wesley Moodie and American Zack Fleishman were among Monday’s unseeded winners at the $832,000 Japan Open.
The 2005 Tokyo titlist Moodie snuck past Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (10-8), while Fleishman held off Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1 at Ariake Colosseum.
Up next for Moodie will be this week’s top seed, Spaniard David Ferrer, while Fleishman will encounter last week’s Mumbai titlist Richard Gasquet.
In other Day-1 action, Chilean Paul Capdeville topped Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (7-4), 7-5; Spaniard Ivan Navarro edged out Dutchman Robin Haase 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-0); Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu overcame Thai Danai Udomchoke 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (9-7), 6-1; and German Mischa Zverev beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1, 7-6 (9-7).
Last year’s winner here was the great Roger Federer, but the Swiss star pulled out of this year’s event last week, citing fatigue. Federer defeated the recently-retired Tim Henman in last year’s Tokyo finale.
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The 2007 titlist here will collect $145,000.
Source: www.tsn.ca
