SA’s Klaasen knocked out of Western and Southern Open doubles

South African tennis ace Raven Klaasen and his Austrian partner Oliver Marach suffered a surprise second-round defeat in the Western & Southern Open (ATP Masters 1000 event) doubles competition on Monday evening, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, in New York, the United States of America.

Klaasen and Marach, who were the seventh seeds, lost 6-3, 6-4 to the unseeded duo, Romania’s Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands, in one hour and 12 minutes.

Klaasen was the last South African player in the singles or doubles draw after Kevin Anderson and Lloyd Harris suffered second round and first-round defeats, respectively.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist Anderson was eliminated by fourth seed Stephanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-1, 6-3 in the second round on Sunday evening.

Harris, the world number 97 and second time ATP Masters 1000 event qualifier, lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 to American world number 24 Taylor Fritz in the opening round on Saturday.

Up next for the South African stars is the US Open grand slam which begins at the same venue from August 31 until September 13.

The Western & Southern Open, traditionally played in Cincinnati, is being held behind closed doors at the venue of the upcoming US Open this year due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo