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Soweto - Number six seed Rik de Voest dispatched fellow South African Raven Klaasen 6-4 6-4 in the first-round of the Soweto Open at the Arthur Ashe tennis centre in Soweto on Tuesday.
De Voest was clinical in his match that lasted just over two hours, thanks mainly to his powerful serve. The long standing Davis Cup star for his country won 93% of points on his first serve in the opening set to give his opponent little chance.
"I played a good game out there considering it was tough to play a fellow countryman." said De Voest.
Klaasen’s serve looked shaky in just the third game when he double faulted twice when he was 40-15 up. He managed to close out the game, but it was clear he was feeling the pressure.
"I have a lot or respect for Raven and at the high altitude he can do a lot of damage.
"I felt confident, my form has been good of late and I arrived early in Joburg so my preparation and confidence was at its best," said De Voest.
In other men’s first round matches, defending champion Dustin Brown struggled in his match and needed three sets to overcome South African Nikala Scholtz. The German number one seed finally saw off the crowd favourite 6-2 3-6 6-3.
In the women’s draw, both South African hopefuls, Chanel Simmonds and Lynn Kiro, suffered crushing defeats. Simmonds lost to the Russian number three seed, Nina Bratchikova 6-2 6-1. Kiro lost to 16-year-old Madagascan Zarah Razafimahatratra 6-4 6-2.
The big surprise was the number five seed, Luxembourgian Mandy Minella, who lost out to Ana-Clara Duarte of Brazil in a tough three setter. Duarte fought her way to 4-6 6-3 and 7-6, winning the third set tiebreak 9-7.
Results on 12 April at the Soweto Open:
Mens Singles
First Round
[1] Dustin Brown (GER) bt Nikala Scholtz (RSA) 6-2 3-6 6-3
[3] Michal Przysienzy (POL) bt Simon Stadler (GER) 6-4 6-2
[8] Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt Toshihide Matsui (JPN) 7-5 6-2
Daniel Udomchoke (THA) bt Andre Begemann (GER) 6-4 6-1
[7] Andrej Martin (SVK) bt Alexander Peya (AUT) 2-6 7-6(6) 6-2
[6] Rik de Voest (RSA) bt Raven Klaasen (RSA) 6-4 6-4
Denys Molchanov (UKR) bt Yannick Mertens (BEL) 6-3 6-2
Chris Eaton (GBR) bt Stanislav Vovk (RUS) 7-6(4) 6-3
Mens Doubles
First Round
Greg Jones (AUS)/Rajeev Ram (USA) bt Renier Moolman (RSA)/Nikala Scholtz(RSA) 6-2 6-3
Sebastian Rieschick (GER)/Simon Stadler (GER) bt Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)/Evgeny Kirillov (RUS) 6-3 6-2
Andre Begemann (GER)/Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt Danai Udomchoke (THA)/Amir Weinstraub (ISR) 5-7 7-6(1) 10-7
[1] James Cerretani (USA)/Adil Shamasdin (CAN) bt Sergei Bubka (UKR)/Andrej Martin (SVK) 6-4 6-4
[2] Michael Kohlmann (GER)/Alexander Peya (AUT) bt Gilles Muller (LUX)/Ludovic Walter (FRA) 4-6 6-4 10-8
Women Singles
First Round
[3] Nina Bratchikova (RUS) bt Chanel Simmonds (RSA) 6-2 6-1
Teodora Mircic (SRB) bt Natasha Fourouclas (RSA) 6-4 6-3
Kim-Alice Gradjek (GER) bt Kiki Bertens (NED) 7-5 7-6(4)
[2] Anne Keothavong (GBR) bt Asia Muhammed 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3
Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) bt Lynn Kiro (RSA) 6-4 6-2
Lisa Whybourn (GRB) bt Jessica Moore (AUS)6-4 6-0
[7] Corinna Dentoni (ITA) bt Gally de Wael (BEL) 6-2 6-1
Ana-Clara Duarte (BRA) bt [5] Mandy Minella (LUX) 4-6 6-3 7-6(7)
Womens Doubles
First Round
[1] Eva Birnerova (CZE)/Petra Cetkovska (CZE) bt Brittany Augustine(USA)/Asia Muhammed (USA) 6-0 6-0
Anne Kremer (LUX)/Nicole Rottmann (AUT) bt Corinna Dentoni (ITA)/Katie O’Brien (GBR) 7-5 6-3
Naomi Broady (GBR)/Emily Webley-Smith (GBR) bt Natasha Fourouclas (RSA)/Ilze Hattingh (RSA) 6-1 6-1
[2] Megan Moulton-Levy (USA)/Kathrin Woerle (GER) bt Kiki Bertens (NED)/Anne Keothavong (GBR) 7-5 7-6(5)
