Tomas Berdych, Caroline Wozniacki win Japan Open titles

Ninth seed Tomas Berdych powered past Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets to win the Japan Open, his first ATP title of the season.

In the women's competition, top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark battled to a 6-2 3-6 6-1 win over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia to claim her third WTA title of the year.

Berdych, who shocked American second seed Andy Roddick and third seed Fernando Gonzalez on his way to the final, surprisingly had a one-sided 6-1, 6-4 victory over the fifth-seeded Del Potro.

"In this condition and at this level of tennis, I think the most important thing is to... just be 100 percent on the court - then the results can come," said the 23-year-old Czech.

"I think it happened to me this week and I'm very happy for that. I'm really happy to win here, especially here in Tokyo, I hope I will be here next year."

Berdych, currently ranked 27th in the world, said his goal was to finish 2008 in or near the top 10.

Del Potro - ranked 12th after a blistering summer during which he won four titles - appeared to be off form, taking an injury time out during the first set and another before the start of the second set.

Del Potro said he had taken some medication, but did not blame the loss on his illness, saying:

"He played much better than me. I was feeling confused (by his play), but he did a great match."

"After the first set I started to play a little better, but it was too late."

It was Berdych's first title since winning at Halle in June last year, and his fourth overall, after victories at Palermo in 2004 and Paris in 2005.

On the women's side, the 18-year-old Wozniacki added to her 2008 success, after winning in Stockholm and New Haven in August.

"I feel amazing. I just won another tournament. It's been an incredible year. This is my first title here in Japan and I'm very happy," said a jubilant Wozniacki, ranked 16th against Kanepi's 33rd.

"I think I improved a lot last year."

Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy's bid for a second successive ATP title ended in disappointment after the top seeds were stunned by the Russian-German pair of Mikhail Youzhny and Mischa Zverev in the finals of AIG Japan Open in Tokyo today.

The unseeded Youzhny and Zverev beat the Indo-Czech pair 6-3, 6-4 to capture their second ATP title together.

It is the second time this year that Youzhny and Zverev have combined to deny Paes and Dlouhy a title win, having also done so when they claimed their maiden ATP title at Halle in June.

(Via news.theage.com.au, Images via Yahoo! Sport, zimbio.com)

Kei Nishikori punished by Richard Gasquet in front of his entire nation

Kei Nishikori couldn't expect anything more worse than being punished in front of his home crowd.

In just 55 minutes, Richard Gasquet, the world no. 13 crushed Nishikori 6-1, 6-2.

"He played really well and there wasn't much I could do," Nishikori told the near-capacity crowd of 9,123 at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum.

"I knew he was strong. I respected him too much."

The unseeded Nishikori was hard-pressed to live up to the exorbitant expectations placed on him in the wake of a breakout year that included becoming the first Japanese to win an ATP event in 16 years.

Already Japan's top male player in over a decade, the 18-year-old never displayed the poise or confidence that carried him to victories in the first two rounds, his first-ever wins in an ATP tournament on home soil.

Gasquet, 22, took advantage of a shaky Nishikori. On one serve, Nishikori did the unimaginable by dropping his racquet (click on picture to see larger version).

"It's hard to play at home, he's only 18 years old," said a sympathetic Gasquet, like Nishikori a former junior star.

"I'm sure he was a little bit nervous. I have three years more experience than him."

Gasquet said he sees a bright future for Nishikori, who will likely land in the upper 70s when the rankings are released next week, exceeding his career-best of 81.

"It's his first year on the tour, so it's tough," Gasquet said.

"He won a tournament and made the fourth round of the U.S. Open. If he is not injured, he will be in the top 10. He has a good forehand, a good backhand. There is no reason for him not to go into the top 10."

In the quarterfinals, Gasquet, the losing finalist here last year to Spain's David Ferrer, will face 2003 champion Rainer Schuettler, the 12th-seeded German who squeezed past No. 8 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-7 (12-14), 6-4.

(Via AP, Images via sanspo.com, Yahoo! Sport)

Kei Nishikori's ramen endorsement deal

Kei joined other players to crack the Sake barrels to wish for the happiness and the success of the tournament at a party during the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championship 2008 at Ariake Colosseum yesterday in Tokyo, Japan.

Kei Nishikori has signed an endorsement and patch contract with Nissin Food Product Co.

Nishikori will wear the "Cup Noodles" logo on his Adidas shirt at the AIG Open at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.

Nissin manufacturers the popular Ramen instant noodle mix.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"I am glad to announce that I have signed a contract with Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd., Japan’s most famous food manufacturer," Nishikori said in a statement.

"I have loved Ramen since I was a little boy."

Here's Kei when he was that little boy!

"Even now that my life is based out of the United States I continue to spend a lot of time traveling around the world and often enjoy Nissin Noodles."

"Instant noodles is a food culture that Nissin Food Product Co., Ltd. has spread all over the world and always reminds me of Japan."

"Diet is a very important aspect of my life as a professional athlete and will be a key factor to my success as a tennis player. Through my relationship with Nissin Food Product Co., Ltd., I will be able to receive great nutritional advice and strong support regarding my diet."

Well said, Kei! Nissin definitely has picked up the right man to sell their noodles. This endorsement deal comes 4 months after Nishikori signed a three-year global sponsorship pact with Sony.

Things is certainly looking bright for Nishikori.

In the meanwhile, at the AIG Japan Open, Nishikori beat Robert Kendrick in the first round to win 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.

(Via tennisweek.com; Image via Yahoo! Sport, JTA Tennis Online)

'AIG SUNDAY' packed with 10,000 tennis fans

The pre-tournament event at the AIG Sunday saw an attendance of about 10,000 tennis fans.

The event saw the practice sessions of Kei Nishikori (錦織 圭) vs Go Soeda and Kimiko Date vs Ayumi Morita as well as exhibition doubles match between Takao Suzuki/Satoshi Iwabuchi vs David Ferrer/Tommy Robredo.

The exhibition match between world No. 1 wheelchair tennis player (also Paralympic gold medallist) Shingo Kunieda and Satoshi Saida was also on schedule but it was canceled at the last minute due to Kunieda's elbow injury.

Here are some photos from the event.

Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda

Kimiko Date is still very much popular with the tennis fans

(From left to right) David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki

Kei Nisihikori with Paralympic gold medallist, Shingo Kunieda

(Via jta.blog.so-net.ne.jp)

Kei Nishikori's homecoming; ready for AIG Japan Open

Kei Nishikori (錦織圭) is finally back home in Japan.

Nishikori currently ranked No. 85 in the world will play in the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships 2008 to be held at the Ariake Colosseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park's courts in Koto Ward, Tokyo, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5.

According to Nishikori, Japan is a significant place to play.

"The AIG Open is the most important tournament of the year for me because it is extraordinary for me to play in Japan," he said recently in an interview.

"If I can attain good results [in the upcoming tournament], this year will be a really good season for me."

Nishikori, 18, became the first Japanese to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 71 years beating David Ferrer along the way.

Ferrer, who is the defending champion here at the AIG Open, will also be joining in by other top players like Richard Gasquet, Juan Martin del Potro, Fernando Gonzalez, Gael Monfils and Tommy Robredo.

Arriving at the Narita International Airport in the afternoon, Nishikori were flocked and welcomed by a large group of journalists and paparazzi.


(Images via nickstennispicks.com, sankei.jp.msn.com, AIG Open website)