STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion James Blake and fourth-seeded German Tommy Haas were among Tuesday's first-round winners at the Stockholm Open.
Blake, the top-seeded American, came from behind to beat veteran Swede Jonas Bjorkman 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-3. Blake is now 11-0 in Stockholm, including his title match victory over Finn Jarkko Nieminen last year. The American beat Thai Paradorn Srichaphan in the 2005 finale here.
Haas defeated Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-4, 6-1.
Seventh-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic advanced with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 victory against Chilean Nicolas Massu.
Swede Thomas Johansson, was leading Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 1-0 when the Argentine retired from their bout due to illness. Johansson won the title here in 2000 and 2004 and was the runner-up in 1998.
