TOKYO -- Top-seeded Marin Cilic advanced to the second round of the Japan Open on Monday by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2.
Cilic, who is aiming for his first Japan Open title after reaching the 2016 semifinals and the 2015 quarterfinals, had eight aces and won 24 of his 29 first-service points.
“He (Tsitsipas) is a great player and we had a very high level of tennis,” said Cilic, who turned 29 on Thursday. “I’m glad to be in the second (round).”
The Croat’s next opponent will be either Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan or Croatian qualifier Franko Skugor.
Also, fifth-seeded Kevin Anderson beat Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-6 (6) and Adrian Mannarino beat Japanese wild-card entry Go Soeda 7-5, 7-6 (3).