Second seed Kevin Anderson needed three sets while French grass-court specialist Nicolas Mahut scored the biggest upset at the ATP Tour’s Winston-Salem Open on Tuesday, a final US Open tune-up.
South Africa’s Anderson eventually toppled Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 on the hardcourts at Wake Forest University.
“I feel like I’m playing great tennis,” said Anderson. “It’s just about getting out there and competing well. Matches can often go up and down.
“You just want to put yourself in the best position to win the match, and that’s been my biggest goal. I’m looking forward to creating those opportunities over the next two weeks.”
France’s Mahut ousted the third-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-1, 7-6 (7/0).
Mahut is known for being involved in the longest match in pro tennis history four years ago when he faced John Isner in the opening round at Wimbledon. The marathon match lasted over 11 hours and set a record for most points won in a single match.
Tuesday’s win was just Mahut’s second over Robredo in five career meetings.
“I’m pretty happy about the way I played today, especially at the beginning,” said Mahut. “I knew he was coming from a tough week in Cincinnati.
“I played well in the first set and was 6-1, 3-1 up. I didn’t play a good service game at 3-1, so the second set was tougher, but still it’s a good win for me.”
Red-hot Belgian qualifier David Goffin breezed past fourth-seeded Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 6-1, and Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz defeated sixth-seeded Portuguese Joao Sousa 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Goffin has actually won his last 24 matches, including an ATP title in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
The 11th-seeded American Donald Young rolled over Canadian Frank Dancevic 6-1, 6-3, 12th-seeded Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin outlasted Aleksandr Nedovyesov 7-6 (11/9), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, and 14th-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi beat Argentine Federico Delbonis 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2.
Unseeded Sam Querrey saw off fellow American Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-3.