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FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO SOUTH ALABAMA: USA WOMEN'S TENNIS' KLEINHANS AND VAN DER MERWE CONTINUE TO FORGE FRIENDSHIP

At the age of five, Delien Kleinhans and Lara Van der Merwe picked up a tennis racquet for the first time. By age nine they were the top two under 10 players in South Africa. Now, 10 years later, the duo plays their sport for South Alabama.

"I can't remember the first time we met. I know we played in my hometown some against each other when we were 10 years old, so I think that's where," Kleinhans said. "She was very good under 10, so I just knew there was this really good player and I was scared of her.