Sela defeats Phau in Japan

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:03

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

The 23-year-old upset three seeded players, including number one 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.

Next up for Sela, who jumped from 92nd to 66th in the rankings on Monday, is fifth-seeded Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro.

Unseeded Jesse Levine was one of three Americans to move advance from the first round on 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.

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