Tennis: Kiwi connections big help to South African

Kevin Anderson is looking forward to the quarter-final. Photo / Jason Oxenham

South African Kevin Anderson has strong New Zealand connections but that didn't help his cause in three previous visits to the Heineken Open.

Back for his fourth tilt at the Auckland tournament, the towering fourth seed managed his first victory at Stanley St yesterday when he overcame German Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (6) 6-1 in a powerful display on centre court.

"It feels good. I guess it was one of those things maybe at the back of my mind but, when I was out there, I was just focusing on today's match," Anderson explained.

"I've been a little bit unlucky the last couple of times. I had pretty bad food poisoning coming in last year and two years ago my knee was pretty sore before so I don't think it was the best representation of how I was playing.

"Coming into this year I was 100 per cent healthy, which is great. I'm just pleased to get through my first match here."

The 28-year-old world No16 was familiar to Kiwi fans after a productive 15-month association with New Zealand coach GD Jones, before the lure of a corporate career drew Jones away last January.

The pair remain firm friends and Anderson has enjoyed the chance to spend some time with his former mentor after making an early exit from the Brisbane International last week.

"One of the positives from losing in Brisbane so early was spending a little bit more time here," he said. "We came the very next day and it was great catching up and it was the first time I'd seen him since we finished in January last year. He took on a different chapter in his life in the corporate world so it was great to see the transition he has made.

"We always have a really good time together and I guess [he is] one of the reasons I'm here playing in Auckland as well."

The big-serving Anderson now looks forward to a quarter-final with American Steve Johnson, after he toppled Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7 (3) 6-4 6-1.

The pair met at last year's Heineken Open, with Johnson winning in straight sets, although Anderson reversed that result later in the year at Delray Beach.

"Steve's been playing some great tennis. He mainly hits slice, so I will definitely be trying to get the ball to that side of the court and look to control points from there."

Meanwhile, illness forced Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut to retire against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who won 6-2 2-1, and Columbia's Alejandro Falla beat France's Kenny De Schepper 6-2 6-4.

American Donald Young prevailed over Argentine Diego Schwartzman 2-6 6-4 6-1 and Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas beat Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu 6-2 6-4.