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Berdych opens Weber title defense with win

Tomas Berdych, shown after a match in 2006, collected a first-round victory Monday in a tournament in Germany.
Tomas Berdych, shown after a match in 2006, collected a first-round victory Monday in a tournament in Germany. | License Photo

HALLE, Germany, June 9 (UPI) -- Third-seeded Tomas Berdych opened defense of his Gerry Weber Open title with a first-round win Monday in the grass-court tournament in Germany.

The $1.12 million Garry Weber Open marks the switch from French Open clay courts to grass surfaces ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begin June 23.

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Berdych picked up his third career ATP title at the Weber last year. He's seeded third in 2008 and moved into the second round with a 6-3, 7-5 win Monday over Thomas Johansson.

He next goes against Robin Soderling, who was a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 winner over Philipp Petzschner in his first-round match.

Petzschner's loss was one of only two for German players Monday as Mischa Zverev delivered the upset of the day by beating seventh-seeded Jarkko Nieminen 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-1, Andreas Beck was a 6-7 (4-7(, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 winner over Marc Gicquel and Benjamin Becker took out Denis Gremelmayr 6-4, 6-2 in an all-German match.

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World No. 1 Roger Federer is this week's top seed. He skipped the event in 2007 but won it each year 2003-06.

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