Print Share Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships del Potro Caught Cold By Qualifier In Tokyo; Simon, Berdych Reach Second Round Tokyo, Japan |
© Getty Images World No. 189 Edouard Roger-Vasselin recorded his first ATP World Tour win since July 2008.
French qualifier and World No. 189 Edouard Roger-Vasselin upset top seed Juan Martin del Potro, who was appearing at his first ATP World Tour tournament since capturing his first Grand Slam title at the US Open (d. Federer) last month, with a 6-4, 6-4 victory Tuesday at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships. Roger-Vasselin won 70 per cent of service points and saved all six break points he faced for victory in 89 minutes.
The 25-year-old Roger-Vasselin, son of 1983 Roland Garros semi-finalist Christophe Roger-Vasselin, recorded the biggest win of his career to beat his first Top 10 opponent (1-1 lifetime). It was his first ATP World Tour victory since July 2008, when he reached the Amersfoort second round (d. Verkerk, l. to Acasuso in 2nd RD.).
"I was a little nervous in the beginning of the match," said Roger-Vasselin. "I had a hard time to hold serve in the first games but once I did I started feeling more confident. I always believed I could win.
"I think I served very well. Every time I had break points I hit an ace or served a good first serve. I didn’t have much of a strategy going into this match. My dad, who was a tennis player, told me I should slice in his forehand. I tried to do that a few times and it worked."
Last year’s runner-up Del Potro, 21, dropped to a 6-4 lifetime record at the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament. The World No. 5 drops to 49-12 on the year (36-7 on hard courts) and will now look to become the fifth player to win matches this year at next week’s Shanghai ATP Masters 1000. In addition to his US Open triumph, the Tandil native has captured titles at the Heineken Open in Auckland (d. Querrey) and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington (d. Roddick).
Top seed del Potro refused to blame a stomach upset and jet-lag for his defeat. "I didn't feel 100 per cent," del Potro said. "Everyone could see that. I had a little bit of jet-lag and a stomach ache but that's not the reason I lost."
Roger-Vasselin, who also qualified for the PTT Thailand Open at Bangkok last week (l. to Beck in 1st RD), has compiled an 18-19 match record on the ATP Challenger Tour this year.
France’s Gilles Simon, who is in contention to capture one of three remaining singles berths at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November, knocked out Japanese wild card Takao Suzuki 6-3, 6-4 in 64 minutes for a place in the second round. Two days ago, the 24-year-old Simon captured his sixth ATP World Tour title at the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok (d. Troicki).
The World No. 10 has a 37-24 season record (26-10 on hard courts). World No. 355 Suzuki was making his 15th consecutive Tokyo appearance (17-15 record). His best result was quarter-final exits in 2001 (l. to Kucera) and 2006 (l. to Federer in third set tie-break).
Defending champion and fifth seed Tomas Berdych earned a comfortable victory over Japanese wild card Go Soeda 6-2, 6-4 in 70 minutes to improve to a 31-21 season record.
Last month the 24 year old helped the Czech Republic to its first Davis Cup final by defeating Croatia in the semi-finals. In May, he captured his fifth career ATP World Tour title at the BMW Open in Munich (d. Youzhny). Japanese No. 1 Soeda, 25, has also made first-round exits at the Aircel Chennai Open and Indianapolis Tennis Championships this year.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt, the No. 8 seed from Australia, defeated Japanese wild card Tatsuma Ito 6-1, 7-5 in 83 minutes on his fifth appearance at Tokyo. "He was probably nervous in the first set, but he started hitting the spots in the second [set]," admitted Hewitt.
"I had to dig deep to win the match. He is a good player; probably better than his ranking shows." Ito, 21, was appearing at his second ATP World Tour tournament this year having qualified at the AEGON International in Eastbourne (l. to Goodall).
World No. 26 Hewitt improved to 31-18 on the season, highlighted by one ATP World Tour title at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston (d. Odesnik). On his Tokyo debut in 2001, Hewitt clinched the title (d. Kratochvil). "My real focus now is the Australian Open next year," said Hewitt. "I am training very hard to get as fit and mentally strong for next season. After my hip surgery, this year has been a rebuilding year for me."
Juan Martín del Potro. Tenista Nro. 5 del Ranking de ATP
El tenista Juan Martín del Potro, número uno de Argentina, favorito en el torneo de Tokio, cayó en primera rueda ante el francés Edouard Roger-Vasselin, el número 189 del ranking mundial. Juan Martín del Potro cayó en sets corridos por 6-4 y 6-4 en una actuación deslucida y sin mostrar su mejor tenis.

Este era el regreso de Del Potro a las canchas tras la histórica victoria obtenida ante Roger Federer en la final del US Open en Nueva York hace casi un mes. Su próxima cita será el Masters de Shangai, que comienza el próximo lunes.