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Top seeded duo Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek had to work hard before grinding down unseeded rivals Filip Polasek and Julian Knowle in the opening round of the ATP Japan Open, in Tokyo on Thursday.
The Indo-Czech pair defeated the Slovakian-Austrian duo 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 17 minutes in the $1,280,565 hard court event.
The two sides fought tooth and nail, producing a thrilling game of tennis.
Paes and Stepanek will next take on British pair of Andy and Jamie Murray, who rallied to beat Eric Butorac and Jarko Nieminen 5-7, 6-3, 10-4 in their opening round tie.