Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori beat American Robert Kendrick in three sets Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Japan Open.
Nishikori downed Kendrick 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 and will meet Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round Wednesday.
Defending champion David Ferrer of Spain — the top-seeded player at the tournament — has a first-round bye along with second-seeded Andy Roddick.