2011 French Open: Kevin Anderson edges past Nicolas Mahut to advance to the second round
Winner of the South African Open this year, world number 35, Kevin Anderson accomplished victory over the 90th ranked French veteran, Nicolas Mahut, in the first round of Roland Garros on Tuesday. Anderson laboured for
three hours and six minutes before he came out as the winner at 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, dispensing out Mahut from the Grand Slam tournament.
The South African registered his 19th victory of the current ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season at Paris, France, to get through to the second round of the mega event. Anderson has been in decent form this
year and continues to impress the tennis fans by his brilliant clay-court tennis skills.
29-year-old Mahut hung in the competition for quite some time but his opponent proved too good for him to beat. The French veteran dropped the opening two sets to trail 0-2 lead in the contest but prevented Anderson from a straight
sets victory by clinching the third set. The South African took the fourth set of the contest to conclude a comprehensive victory and booked a place in the second round of the French Open.
Anderson’s first serve lacked something to be desired, as he delivered 65 per cent of it on target but fired 22 cracking aces along with it. The French delivered nine aces in the contest but his 36 unforced errors, including six
costly double faults, wore him out later in the game.
32nd seeded Anderson belted 64 winners to the opponent’s court, while Mahut replied with 45 winners. The South African was phenomenal in securing points, as he amazingly bagged 64 out of 80 first serve points in the
contest, conceding just three double faults.
The South African crafted 17 break chances in the entire contest and cashed in five of them en route to victory, while suffering just two serve breaks from the French opponent. Anderson had a ballistic start to the competition,
reeling off the opening two sets with identical scores of 6-4, 6-4, to get 2-0 up in the game.
It appeared as if the South African will wrap up the contest in straight sets but a valiant effort from Mahut prevented him from doing so. The French won the third set tie breaker at 7-6(6) but Anderson devastated him in the next
one, finishing the competition at 6-3 to get through to the second round of Roland Garros.
Anderson will take on the Argentine, Juan Ignacio Chela in the second round. The Argentine defeated American wildcard, Tim Smyczek, in straight sets 6(5), 6-1, 6-1, in the opening round of the tournament.
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