10 Oct 2014

Anderson returning to Auckland

11:43 am on 10 October 2014

The South African tennis player Kevin Anderson will return to the Heineken Open in January.

Anderson is the fifth top 16 player to be announced for the tournament, making the 2015 field the strongest ever to assemble in Auckland.

The South African tennis player Kevin Anderson in action at the 2014 Heineken Open.

The South African tennis player Kevin Anderson in action at the 2014 Heineken Open. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Currently world number 16, Anderson has had a productive year, meeting Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of Indian Wells, as well as reaching the third round of Wimbledon, and the fourth of Roland Garros for the second year in a row.

He was also a finalist at both Acapulco and Delray Beach.

The 28-year-old giant, formerly guided by Kiwi Davis Cup player GD Jones, joins the already announced David Ferrer (5), Ernests Gulbis (13), John Isner (14) and Gael Monfils (15) for the world-class Heineken Open field.

Monfils has played at the tournament twice before, reaching the semi-finals in 2013, and he was due to return this year before withdrawing with injury.

At number 15 in the world, he's the fourth player inside the top 15 to sign on to play in Auckland, along with David Ferrer, John Isner and Ernests Gulbis.

Tournament director Karl Budge says Monfils knocked back more money from Australian tournaments to play in Auckland and says it shows how much the players enjoy the experience.

Gael Monfils is confirmed for the 2015 Heineken Open.

Gael Monfils is confirmed for the 2015 Heineken Open. Photo: Supplied

"We talk often about winning the dressing room over and I think we're showing we've done that. The players are choosing to come to Auckland to start their year and I know Gael in particular loves playing in front of this crowd and that really was the clincher for him.

"He loves how close the fans are and how there's a lot of noise and that he can play up to it and when he's like that he plays his best tennis."

Monfils reached the quarter-finals of the US Open losing to Roger Federer in five sets, despite holding two match points.