Top-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina has defeated American qualifier Eric Taino to make it into the third round of the rain-delayed Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo.
After receiving a bye into the second round, Puerta had little trouble with Taino, beating him 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday. Third-seeded Robby Ginepri of the United States also advanced, cruising past Alexander Popp of Germany 6-4, 6-0 at Ariake Colosseum.
In women's play, Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson upset seventh-seeded home-country player Shinobu Asagoe 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a second round match. In first round play, third-seeded Tatiana Golovin of France defeated American Abigail Spears 6-4, 6-2, while number two Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic needed three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to get past Japan's Akiko Morigami.
Rain forced many of Wednesday's matches scheduled for outdoor courts to be moved indoors, causing a backlog that prevented most matches from being played.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
