Suzuki upsets Gambill in Japan Open

TOKYO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Local favorite Takao Suzuki posted the first upset at the $979,000 Japan Open before rain again suspended play on Tuesday.

Suzuki, Japan's No. 1 player, beat American 10th seed Jan-Michael Gambill, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Seeking his first career title, the 26-year-old Suzuki reached the quarterfinals here last year.

Suzuki faces American Brian Vahaly or Ramon Delgado of Paraguay in the second round of this hardcourt event.

A pair of Swedish qualifiers, Magnus Norman and Magnus Larsson, both were victorious Tuesday. Norman, who lost in the first round of his last four tournaments, breezed to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over George Bastl of Switzerland.

Larsson, who lost in the first round in four of his last five events, defeated Croatian teenager Mario Ancic, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, to earn a meeting with seventh seed Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

American Mardy Fish saved a match point and defeated Japanese wild card Gouichi Motomura, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, and Slovakian Karol Kucera overcame German qualifier Maximilian Abel, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

On the women's side, Japan's Akiko Morigami cruised past Paraguay's Rossana Neffa-de los Rios, 6-4, 6-2. Morigami will play countrywoman Ai Sugiyama, who is the top seed. Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, who lost to Monica Seles in the final last year, is the second seed.