Fifth-seed Ai Sugiyama advanced to the women's singles second round with a straight sets win over Alina Jidkova on a day of contrasting fortunes for Japanese players at the Japan Open on Tuesday.
Aiko Nakamura hits a backhand during her second-round victory over Mashona Washington of the
United States at the Japan Open on Tuesday at Ariake Tennis Forest Park in Tokyo's Odaiba.
Nakamura won 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-1.
Two-time champion Sugiyama won 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) while 15-year-old Ayumi Morita put up a brave fight before going down 6-4, 6-4 to fourth-seeded Maria Kirilenko in her debut in the main draw of a WTA tour event.
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