HALLE, Germany (AP) Second-seeded Kei Nishikori won a close contest against Dominic Thiem of Austria 7-6 (4) 7-5 to reach the second round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday
The Japanese player saved nine of 10 break points he faced to set up a second-round clash with Dustin Brown of Germany.
Nishikori led 5-3 and wasted a set point before dropping his serve. He then had to fend off three set points before winning the tiebreaker.
Third-seeded Tomas Berdych defeated Victor Estrella Burgos 7-5, 6-3. Estrella Burgos double-faulted to deliver the first set to Berdych, who breezed through the second.
No. 4-seeded Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4, but No. 7 Bernard Tomic crashed out against Steve Johnson. The American had 12 aces in winning 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Jerzy Janowicz beat sixth-seeded Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-4 and Andreas Seppi ousted Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-2.
No. 8 Ivo Karlovic blasted 28 aces to overcome Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-7, (4), 6-4, 6-4.
Ernests Gulbis and Mikhail Kukushkin also advanced at the grass-court event, a tune-up for Wimbledon.
