Gasquet to face Tsonga in Japan Open tennis

Richard Gasquet powered his way to the second round by beating Philipp Petzschner of Germany at the Japan Open tennis tournament on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old unseeded Frenchman, who has sparked adulation in some quarters but was sidelined for two months after a disputed positive test for cocaine in mid-season, began campaigning here with a strong 6-3, 6-2 victory.

In so doing, Gasquet booked a place in the second round against his compatriot and second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the winner over Mischa Zverev of Germany 6-4, 6-3.

"I did a great visit here last year and two years ago with a final and semi-finals. I like to play in Japan. That's why it's one of my favourite tournaments and I'm happy to come back. It's nice to win a match," said Gasquet.

Gasquet stayed firm in his service games and never faced a break point against him in the 67-minute match against the 36th-ranked German, but insisted he is still working on his comeback.

"For sure I played better in 2007," Gasquet said of his appearance in that year's final here.

"But I stopped for three months. It's hard work to come back. I try to rebuild myself. That's what I'm doing since one month ago. It's good, because I'm playing good. I try to come back as fast as I can."

For his part, Tsonga said: "Richard is a good friend. We played each other a lot of times and I know him and he knows me very well.

"It will be a good match. He came back from some bad things and he wants to play well. I'm happy for him to be here. I hope we will play a good match."

Earlier in the day, unheralded qualifier Ernests Gulbis of Latvia showed his potential by upsetting sixth seed Radek Stepanek, using his serve to score a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over the Czech player.

Gulbis said he struggled with a left knee injury during the season, but regained his confidence after playing Britain's Andy Murray in the US Open last month, despite a three-set loss.

"I played the way I normally play, an aggressive game, so now I'm happy about the way things are going," said Gulbis.

In the second round, Gulbis will take on Juan Monaco of Argentina, the winner over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, who abandoned their match at 0-5 down.

In other first-round action, Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-2, 6-3 and Andreas Beck edged past fellow German and 2003 Tokyo champion Rainer Schuettler 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).