Stan Wawrinka eased into the second round of the Rakuten Japan open after defeating 36-year-old Radek stepanek 7-5, 6-3.
The world No.4 started the match in impressive fashion by breaking Stepanek in his second service game to move ahead 3-1. Leading 5-2 in the opening set, the top seed encountered his first test as the Czech player broke back to level the match at 5-5. Stepanek had two chances to take the set into a tie-break but failed to do so as the world No.4 broke him to take the set after forty-one minutes.
Wawrinka continued his offensive at the start of the second set by breaking the Czech player for the second time of the match after a long game. Stepanek was unable to cope with Wawrinka’s serve with the Swiss player facing no break points throughout the second set, as the French Open champion booked his place into the next round.
During his first round match Wawrinka produced 33 winners, 24 unforced errors, 11 aces and won 81% of his first service points. In the next round he will play Japanese wild card Tatsuma Ito. Wawrinka will be looking for revenge against Ito after he lost to him last year in the first round of the tournament.
Following his win, Wawrinka spoke about his upcoming rematch against Ito.
“It was a really good match for a first round,” said Wawrinka.
“I served well and hit the ball well. [Ito] will have the support of the crowd, but it will all depend on me. I lost to him last year, but I am playing well and I hope I can play a good match.”
There was disappointment for fifth-seeded seed Kevin Anderson and eight seed Grigor Dimitrov, who crashed out in the first round.
Anderson was playing his first match since the US Open where he stunned Andy Murray to reach the quarterfinals. In Tokyo he was a far from the form which he had during the US Open as he dropped his service three times in the 6-2, 6-3, loss to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.
Dimitrov’s match was more competitive than Anderson’s but still ended in disappointment. The Bulgarian was knocked out by French world No.32 Benoit Paire 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Dimitrov had 13 chances to break Paire in the match, but was only successful on one occasion. Paire produced 27 winners and 17 unforced errors.
