Kevin Anderson returns to Auckland after his best season yet. The lofty South African won his first tour title in 2011 and jumped from a ranking of 61 at the start of the year to 32 by the end of 2011.

His first title was even more special because it was won at his hometown event in Johannesburg, beating Indian Somden Devvarman in the final in February.

A month before he’d reached the semifinals in Brisbane where he lost to Andy Roddick. Anderson went on to another semifinal in Vienna in October.

Coached by his father Michael, the 25-year-old turned pro in June 2007 after a college career at the University of Illinois, and reached his only other ATP final in Las Vegas in 2008.