India's [ Images ] Shikha Uberoi and Liga Dekmeijere of Latvia battled into the second round of the women's doubles at the Japan [ Images ] Open in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The pair beat Emma Laine and Lilia Osterloh 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 42 minutes. They will meet America's Vania King [ Images ] and Croatia's [ Images ] Jelena Kostanic in the quartefinals of the event.

World number one Roger Federer [ Images ] overcame stubborn Serb qualifier Viktor Troicki 7-6, 7-6 to reach the third round. He had received a bye in the first round.

British number one Andy Murray [ Images ] failed to follow suit, however, the 19-year-old Scot slumping to a 6-3, 7-6 defeat by Czech Jiri Novak in his opening match in Tokyo.

Federer played well within himself in his first ever match in Japan but ripped through the first-set tiebreak for the loss of just two points against the hard-serving Troicki.

The Swiss failed to overpower his 276th-ranked opponent in the second set as well, until his superior class gave him the edge in another tiebreak.

A fabulous cross-court forehand gave Federer a 6-2 lead before the nine-times grand slam champion closed out proceedings with a fierce serve on his second match point.

"I made it hard on myself," Federer told reporters. "Thank God I have the ability to play well when I really need it. It was a tough match and I'm really happy I came through."

Federer improved his win-loss record for the year to 73-5 in setting up a third-round clash with defending Japan Open champion Wesley Moodie [ Images ].

The South African beat Austria's Stefan Koubek 6-3 6-4 to earn a shot at Federer.

"It was my first match and I wanted to play it safe a bit," Federer told reporters. "I didn't want to take too many risks... I wanted to get a rhythm for myself."

MURRAY TRIPPED

Murray, who like Federer received a first-round bye, clawed his way back into the second set from 4-1 down but managed to win just one point in a one-sided tiebreak as Novak closed in style.

It was the 10th time this year Murray has tripped at the first hurdle and came on the heels of his first-round defeat by compatriot Tim Henman [ Images ] in Bangkok last week.

"Every single young player goes through a patch where he's not playing well," shrugged the fourth-seeded Murray.

"You can't expect to get to the semi-finals every week -- unless you're Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal [ Images ].

"They are the only two who can do it. I wasn't looking that far ahead. I did well to fight back into the match but unfortunately I couldn't quite turn it around."

Dmitry Tursunov [ Images ] of Russia [ Images ] followed his maiden ATP win in Mumbai [ Images ] by beating  Yeu-Tzuoo Wang of Taiwan 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.

Germany's [ Images ] Benjamin Becker, best known as the man who ushered Andre Agassi [ Images ] into retirement at last month's US Open [ Images ], will face Novak next after thrashing Thailand's Danai Udomchoke 6-2, 6-1.

Meanwhile, second seed Tommy Robredo [ Images ] of Spain booked his place in the last 16 with a convincing 6-4, 6-1 win over Taiwanese qualifier Lu Yen-hsun.

Finland's Jarkko Nieminen also advanced to the third round, the fifth seed beating German Lars Burgsmuller 7-5, 7-6 in windy conditions on an outside court.