World No. 6 Andy Roddick of the United States will make his first trip to Japan as a pro tennis player when he takes part in the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 at Tokyo's Ariake Tennis Forest Park, organizers announced Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Roddick has won two ATP tournaments this season and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last week. He currently ranks highest among the players expected to take part in the annual AIG Open.
German Rainer Schuettler (world No. 8), Czech Jiri Novak (10) and Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan are also expected to play. Wimbledon women's doubles champion Ai Sugiyama will head the field in the women's singles.
It will be Sugiyama's first contest in Japan after winning the doubles at the French Open and Wimbledon, and the Tokyo native will be aiming for her first AIG Open title since 1998.
Tickets go on sale July 10 at major ticket outlets.
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