Anderson rallies to win opener in Madrid

Cape Town - South African tennis star Kevin Anderson has won his opening match at the Madrid Masters clay-court event, coming from a set down to defeat Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin on Wednesday.

The sixth-seeded Anderson, won had a bye in the first round, won the second round encounter 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.

Anderson, the world No 8, was given a hard time by the qualifier and was forced to win the second set in a tie-breaker, before running away with matters in the final set.

In the third round, Anderson will face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who defeated 11th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.