TENNIS WORLD

Japanese teenager and wild card recipient Kei Nishikori (pictured) knocked out No. 8 seed Marcel Granollers of Spain 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in first round action Monday at the If Stockholm Open.
Following a slow start to the match, Nishikori earned the only break of serve in the second set and converted on all three of his break point chances in the decisive set to defeat Granollers in one hour and 49 minutes.
The 18-year-old came into the week ranked a career-high No. 77 after reaching the third round at his home country event last week in Tokyo (l. to Gasquet). Nishikori won his first ATP title in February at Delray Beach (d. Blake).
Nishikori will next face ATP World No. 396 Dominik Hrbaty, who recorded his fourth ATP-level victory of the season by defeating Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-1.
The former No. 12 (October 18, 2004) is returning to Stockholm for the first time since losing in the first round on his 1999 debut (l. to Vinciguerra). Playing in an ATP main draw for the sixth time this season,
Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti also progressed to the second round, edging past Spaniard Ivan Navarro 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-5. The former World No. 6, who is currently No. 78 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, improves to 15-16 for the season, highlighted by a semifinal exit at Costa do Sauipe (l. to Moya) and a quarterfinal effort at Masters Series Cincinnati (d. No. 4 David Ferrer, No. 12 Fernando Verdasco; l. to No. 2 Nadal).
Next up he will face either fifth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler or Australian Chris Guccione.

Info and photo from ATP