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Typhoon Nanmadol leads to closed roof at Pan Pacific Open

Posted September 19, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Wang Qiang of China serves against Elise Mertens of Belgium during a singles match in Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) - Elise Mertens won the first three games before Typhoon Nanmadol forced the match to be halted, and then won the next three when they resumed in a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Qiang Wang on Monday at the Pan Pacific Open.

Wang was serving when the rain started, forcing play to be suspended for 45 minutes while the roof at Ariake Coliseum was closed.

The 30-year-old Chinese player managed to get to 3-3 in the second set but Mertens then won the last three games to advance to the second round.

Claire Liu advanced by beating Alison Riske-Amritraj 6-2, 6-3, while Xinyu Wang defeated Ellen Perez 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.

Liu also took a 3-0 lead in her match, winning 88% of her first serves in the opening set. The two Americans exchanged breaks to start the second set but Liu won three straight games for a 5-1 lead.

Perez managed to take a 3-0 lead against Xinyu Wang, but she lost the match despite winning the first set.

Also, Despina Papamichail beat Xiaodi You 6-4, 6-2 and two Japanese players lost. Misaki Doi was eliminated by Qinwen Zheng 6-2, 6-4 and Rina Saigo was beaten by Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1.

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Claire Liu of of U.S. returns a shot against Alison Riske-Amritra of the U.S. during a singles match in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

Alison Riske-Amritra of the U.S. returns a shot against Claire Liu of of U.S. during a singles match in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

Claire Liu of of U.S. serves against Alison Riske-Amritra of the U.S. during a singles match in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

Alison Riske-Amritra of the U.S. serves against Claire Liu of U.S. during a singles match in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

Ellen Perez of Australia tries to return a shot against Wang Xinyu of China during a singles match in Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The Associated Press

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