Anderson cracks top 10 ATP ranking
• Victory in the New York Open puts South African among the best players in the world
SA’s Kevin Anderson moved to a career ranking of No 9 after winning the ATP New York Open against old adversary Sam Querrey on Sunday.
SA’s Kevin Anderson moved to a career ranking of No 9 after winning the ATP New York Open against old adversary Sam Querrey on Sunday.
In the open era the only other South Africans to have been ranked higher are Johan Kriek (No 7)‚ Kevin Curren (No 5) and Wayne Ferreira (No 6).
Anderson reached the top 10 for a week in 2015 but Sunday’s victory underlines his huge improvement in the past six months.
Anderson and Querrey have now played 16 times on tour and have each won eight matches.
In 2017 Anderson reached Wimbledon’s fourth round where he lost to Querrey‚ before making the US Open final‚ beating Querrey in the quarterfinal.
He lost in straight sets to Rafael Nadal in the final at Flushing Meadows.
Anderson returned to New York last week‚ this time to Long Island‚ for the ATP 250 event and walked away with a win and R1.55m in prize money.
It took his season’s earnings to R2.75m. In 2017 he won R36.6m on tour‚ thanks largely to his US Open run.
In Long Island Anderson beat Querrey 4-6 6-3 7-6 (1) in the final after overcoming former world No 4 Kei Nishikori in three sets in the semifinals. “Tennis is a tough sport. “You play three‚ four‚ five matches sometimes to get to the final and if it doesn’t go your way‚ it’s pretty tough to deal with even though you’ve had a great week‚” Anderson said.
“I’ve been to quite a few finals. It really means a lot to me to get through today.”
Anderson has played in three ATP finals in the past year and lost all‚ so winning in New York was a big mental hurdle to clear as he aims to qualify for the World Championships in London in November.
Anderson split with longtime South African coach Neville Godwin in 2017 and both seem to be flourishing in their new partnerships.
Godwin has started coaching Korea’s Hyeon Chung. Under his tutelage the 21-year-old Asian player made it to the Australian Open semifinals in January before withdrawing in the biggest match of his life against eventual winner Roger Federer.
Anderson‚ 31‚ has teamed up with experienced coach Brad Stine. The American previously helped Jim Courier reach No 1.
“Kevin is probably the most focused‚ intense‚ professional person I’ve been around since Jim Courier‚” Stine told ATP World Tour.
“What he demands from himself and what he expects from his team when he’s inside the fences training for his tennis is very high. I’ve really enjoyed that‚ actually. That intensity and that demand‚ it’s great.”
Despite Anderson’s recent form‚ he did lose in the Australian Open first round to eventual semifinalist Kyle Edmund.