The New Zealand tennis player Rubin Statham says he sensed early the other Kiwi wildcard Dan King-Turner might be off his game in their centre court clash on day one of the Heineken Open in Auckland.
Statham won 6-2 7-5 in a match marred by dozens of unforced errors and he says the swirling wind didn't help the big-serving New Zealand number one.
Statham, the number two, will play the eighth seed Albert Montanes of Spain or a qualifier in the next stage.
In the afternoon's other centre court match Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil beat Switzerland's Marco Ciudinelli 6-3 6-3.
