Sela advances at Japan Open

Sep 30, 2008 - 3:24 PM TOKYO (Ticker) -- Dudi Sela is not going to sneak up on anyone this week at the Japan Open.

The unseeded Israeli opened the $869,000 hardcourt event on Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Germany's Bjorn Phau in one of 12 first-round matches slated.

Sela made headlines last week at the China Open, where he reached his first career final before falling to eighth-ranked Andy Roddick.

The 23-year-old upset three seeded players, including No. 1 David Ferrer, en route to the showdown with Roddick and was bidding to become the first player from Israel to win an ATP singles title since Amos Mansdorf did so at Washington in 1993.

Awaiting Sela, who jumped from 92nd to 66th in the rankings Monday, is fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

Unseeded Jesse Levine was one of three Americans to move through the first round Tuesday as he rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 win over Thai qualifier Danai Udomchoke. Levine's reward is a second-round match with Ferrer, the top seed and defending champion.

Wayne Odesnik and Bobby Reynolds also advanced, but fellow Americans Robert Kendrick, Donald Young, Kevin Kim and Brendan Evans were eliminated.

First prize is $135,000.