It's game, set and rap for tennis fan David Dallas

Kiwi Musician/Rapper David Dallas enjoys the tennis at the Heineken Open. Photo / Nick Reed

Kiwi hip-hop artist juggles tour dates to fit in tennis opens and says Stanley St right up there

Hip hop music and tennis may not be an obvious fit but try telling that to Kiwi rapper David Dallas.

The multi-award-winning artist has been a regular sight courtside during the ASB Classic and Heineken Open and loves taking in the action down at Stanley St.

"It's the best. I'll always say this is probably my favourite sporting event on the Auckland calendar," he said. "It's the best time of year ... it's well catered, it's cool to hang out, and you get to stay for six hours."

Dallas enjoys taking in different sporting events, including basketball and league, but tennis is his number one game.

His love of the local tournaments saw him invited to toss the coin before the start of Saturday's ASB Classic final between Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.

Despite juggling a busy recording and touring schedule, he does his best to fit his concert dates around tennis Opens overseas and says the Auckland tournaments are right up there.

"Some people will see the names of the players and because it isn't Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, they're like, 'Oh those guys are nobody.'

"These guys are top 20 in the world. And the teenage kid who is playing now [Borna Coric] beat Rafael Nadal last year, so these guys are gun players. It's a huge opportunity to see some players that are really, really good."

Coric lost 6-4 6-3 to Pablo Carreno Busta yesterday.