BEIJING, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko had little trouble in collecting a first-round victory Tuesday at the $500,000 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing.
Davydenko, ranked fourth in the world after his semifinal loss in the U.S. Open, eliminated Zack Fleishman, 6-3, 6-3, to open his play in the hard-court tournament.
Defending champion Marcos Baghdatis was another winner Tuesday, recording a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 win over Shao Xuan Zeng. Baghdatis is seeded fifth this year.
Fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic knocked out Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced when Rohan Bopanna retired in the second set because of a side strain.
Also Tuesday, Marin Cilic overcame Rainer Schuettler, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3; Nicolas Kiefer defeated Dudi Sela, 6-2, 6-3; Rik De Voest beat Jun Woong-sun, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Boris Pashanski outlasted Yen-Hsun Lu, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); and Viktor Troicki edged Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-4.
