Tennis: Anderson falls in Auckland first round

AUCKLAND: Qualifier Adrian Mannarino over-powered fifth-seed Kevin Anderson with unexpected ease at the Auckland ATP tournament, eliminating the South African 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round. The left-handed Frenchman impressed with a ruthless serve, while having no difficulty returning Anderson’s best efforts. Service breaks in the third and ninth games gave Mannarino the first set and another break in the sixth game of the second set was enough to wrap up the match. Mannarino will meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round who beat Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2012.