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SOUTH Africa's Rik de Voest came through a titanic battle with Italian qualifier Stefano Galvani on day one of the South African Tennis Open yesterday, finally clinching the match 6-3 5-7 7-6(6).
His countryman Raven Klaasens was not as fortunate though. After coming through qualifying for the tournament proper, the local man lost 6-4 6-3 to India's Somdev Devvarman last night.
De Voest, ranked 180 in the world - over 100 places above his little known opponent - had to work hard for his first round victory.
The local man struck early in the final set, breaking his opponent in the third game to lead 2-1. But the Italian wasn't going to go down without a fight as he broke straight back to level the match at 2-2. The next six games went to serve. The longest game of the match followed, going to deuce five times before Galvani finally held to lead 6-5.
Read more: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/tennis/article885129.ece/De-Voest-wins-tough-battle
