TOKYO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Tomas Berdych opened defense of his Japan Open title with a straight-set win Monday.
Berdych, seeded second this year, defeated Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). Berdych won 55 percent of the points and had two breaks off Paire's serve in the first set. He overcame his only lost service game of the match in taking the tiebreaker in the second.