Anderson faces US young gun at New York Open

Cape Town - South Africa’s Kevin Anderson will face American qualifier Ernesto Escobedo in his first match at the New York Open on Thursday.

Anderson, the top seed at the event in Long Island, had a bye in the first round and in the second round will face 21-year-old Escobedo, who is ranked 131st in the world.

After coming through qualifying, Escobedo defeated countryman Mackenzie McDonald 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in the first round.

Anderson and Escobedo have never faced each other in the main draw of an ATP World Tour event, but did meet in qualifying for last year's Rome Masters on clay, with Anderson emerging a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victor.

The 250-level indoor hard-court tournament was previously called the Memphis Open, but has relocated to Long Island in 2018, ensuring the continuation of one of the ATP World Tour’s longest-running tournaments in the United States.

Anderson, the current world No 11, heads a field which includes Americans Sam Querrey and John Isner as second and third seeds respectively.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, a former world No 4, is the fifth seed having recently made his return from a long injury layoff.