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Lepchenko Takes Opener

Even darkness can't prevent Allentown's tennis queen from 1st Olympic win

By Dan Stamm

| Monday, Jul 30, 2012 | Updated 1:29 PM EDT

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Varvara Lepchenko took her opening match at the Olympics.

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It took three sets but Varvara Lepchenko advanced to the second round of the Olympic Women’s Singles Tennis competition Monday where a surprise opponent awaits her.

Lepchenko, who is playing in her first Olympics, beat Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg 7-6, 6-7 (6), 6-2 in first-round action.

The Allentown, Pa. resident labored through a 50-minute first set and 75-minute second set Sunday night before darkness forced them to wait overnight to compete the match. On Monday Lepchenko quickly dispatched Cepede Royg in a 29-minute final set.

The key for Lepchenko was her nine aces to her opponent’s zero and her 44 winners to Cepede Royg’s 21.

Next up for Lepchenko is Germany’s Julia Georges who upset world No. 2-ranked player Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.

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