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AO: Stako Edges Marchenko in Five-Setter

Sergiy is through to the second round of the Australian Open after beating fellow Ukrainian Ilya Marchenko 6-3, 6-7(11), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted nearly four and a half hours.

Stako found his stride early to take the first set 6-3, but Marchenko raised his game in the second, taking it in the tie-break. Sergiy struggled in the third set as Marchenko seemed to be on fire and found his momentum, while Sergiy gave away points. Fortunately, in the fourth and fifth sets, Stako served very well, not allowing his opponent to break his serve.

After the match, Sergiy wrote on Twitter: "Today very close match..difficult conditions to play..happy to be through!!thanks for your support!"

In the second round to be played on Wednesday, Sergiy will square off against Kevin Anderson. It will be the first head-to-head meeting between the two.

In doubles play, Sergiy teams up with Mikhail Youzhny. In the first round, they play Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah of Colombia.