South African fifth-seeded Kevin Anderson battled past France’s Adrian Mannarino in four sets to reach the Australian Open second round on Monday morning.
Anderson saw off the tricky Frenchman 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and 53 minutes to progress at Melbourne Park.
Anderson, who has reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park on three occasions, served 14 aces but made 38 unforced errors in his opening match.
The big-serving Anderson has lost in the first round in the opening Grand Slam of the year six times, including to Britain’s Kyle Edmund last year. It was the South African’s first win in Melbourne since 2015.
Kev says: “It was really hot out here. I thought we were going to hit the heat rule, but no luck.
“I was up a break in that second set and just let it get away a little bit. I was happy with the way I was able to reset.”
The 32-year-old Anderson has been in fine form so far this year, winning his sixth ATP title at Pune in India, defeating Ivo Karlovic in the final, prior to the Australian Open.
The Wimbledon 2018 runner-up adds: “Every day I push myself to get better and better.
“You’ve got to come out here and win the match. It is a difficult challenge but that is what it is all about.”
The South African will next face 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Frances Tiafoe, who edged out Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran.
Anderson and Tiafoe clashed three times last season.