Raven Klaasen

South African doubles star Raven Klaasen has touched on the fact that his career on the ATP circuit is drawing to a close. Photo: Tennis SA

Australian Open: Good news at LAST for South Africa Down Under

It’s been a pretty bleak 2022 Australian Open from a South African point of view – but there was better news on Thursday, 20 January.

Raven Klaasen

South African doubles star Raven Klaasen has touched on the fact that his career on the ATP circuit is drawing to a close. Photo: Tennis SA

It’s been a pretty bleak 2022 Australian Open from a South African point of view – but there was better news on Thursday, 20 January.

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As reported by The South African website, South Africa’s No 1 tennis player, Lloyd Harris, crashed out in the first round of both the men’s singles and doubles.

He was quickly followed through the exit door by Mzansi’s former world No 5, Kevin Anderson, who was also defeated in his opening round singles match.

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However, there was some better news in the early hours of Thursday morning (SA time) when 39-year-old doubles ace Raven Klaasen and his Japanese partner Ben McLachlan won their Round 1 clash.

But it was a struggle for the 13th seeds!

Klaasen/McLachlan face a tricky Round 2 Australian Open tie

In a match which last three minutes short of two hours, the Klaasen/McLachlan pairing beat unseeded Austrian-Dutch duo Philipp Oswald and Matwe Middelkoop, 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-3.

Klaasen and McLachlan will face British duo Dominic Inglot and Ken Skupski in the next round.

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