Anderson Victorious In ‘16 Debut

Making his 2016 debut, No. 4 seed Kevin Anderson grabbed the first open spot in the ASB Classic quarter-finals on Wednesday with a narrow 7-6(8), 7-6(5) win over Dutch qualifier Robin Haase.

“It was a really tough match,” said Anderson, an Auckland semi-finalist last year. “I think both of us were taking care of our serves. It was a little windy. It was tough to find your rhythm. But I just stuck with it. It’s my first match. Given that, I thought I played pretty well. There are a few things I would like to do a little better. Robin came out and served well, returned well, and I made it a little tough on myself at the end.”

Haase, No. 64 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, was a perfect 15 for 15 on first-serve points heading into the first-set tie-break. But despite a pair of set points in the tie-break, he would let the set slip away with an ill-time double fault.

The first service break of the match didn’t come until the seventh game of the second set, Anderson further distancing himself at 4-3. However, Haase later leveled the match, breaking his opponent at love for 5-all and later forcing a tie-break. But trailing 4-2, Anderson reeled off four of the next five points for victory, sealing it with a forehand return winner.

Making his fifth Auckland appearance in the past six years, Anderson was one of three players to cross the 1,000-ace barrier (1,074) in 2015. On Wednesday, the 12^th-ranked South African needed just eight to pull off the one-hour, 46-minute win.

In all, Haase won 36 of 41 first-serve points (87%), but converted just one of three break-point opportunities in the losing effort.

Anderson’s next test will be American Jack Sock, who took down doubles partner Vasek Pospisil of Canada 6-2, 6-4 in 76 minutes.

Also in action on Wednesday at the ASB Arena was top seed and four-time champion David Ferrer, who rolled past Australian qualifier Matthew Barton in 65 minutes 6-2, 6-4.

The Spaniard, who owns more Auckland titles than any other player in the Open Era, winning in 2007 and 2011-2013, took a wild card into the draw after an opening-round loss in Doha last week. He was a perfect 11 for 11 on first-serve points in taking the first set, and would win 23 of 26 (88%) in total in moving into the quarter-finals.

Ferrer is now 17-2 as a top seed in Auckland.

Barton, who in his 13th attempt qualified for his first ATP World Tour main draw, then won his tour-level debut against American Steve Johnson on Monday, finished with six aces to two doubles faults.

No. 8-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agust saved both break points he faced in downing American Donald Young 6-4, 7-6(3) in one hour and 26 minutes. Czech Lukas Rosol scored a 6-4, 7-6(5) upset of No. 5-seeded Frenchman Benot Paire.   

Doubles: Seeds advance

No. 4 seeds Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky battled past Jonathan Marray and Aisam-Ul-Haq Quershi 6-4, 3-6, 13-11 to advance in the doubles draw. Austrians Julian Knowle and Oliver Marach defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Victor Estrella Burgos 7-6(6), 6-4.

No. 3 seeds Philipp Petzschner/Alexander Peya defeated Spaniards Guillermo Garcia-Lopez/David Marrero 7-6(3), 6-3.