Anderson on verge of winning his fourth ATP career title

eighth-ranked Alexander Zverev and ninth-ranked Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Anderson seeks his fourth career ATP title after Winston-Salem in 2015, Delray Beach in 2012 and Johannesburg in 2011.

Sock, a champion this year at Auckland and Delray Beach, had not dropped a set all week and had been broken only once.

Anderson broke Sock at love for a 20 lead and held serve from there to take the first set in 34 minutes.

Two wide Anderson forehands in the final game forced him to save a break point, which he did on a service winner, before hitting a volley winner and service winner to claim the set.

Sock double-faulted on the first break point of the second set to hand Anderson a 2-1 edge. Anderson faced two break points in the sixth game but saved each with an ace and held for a 4-2 lead, then denied Sock’s last break chance in the eighth game with the last of his 12 aces.

“Some of my best serves were on break points,” Anderson said.

“I play my best tennis when my back is against the wall. I’m trying to channel that into my tennis.”

A final forehand winner end matters after 88 minutes.

Anderson, who ousted top seed Dominic Thiem in the third round, lifted his week-best aces total to 62.

Sock ripped the stadium court he played upon all week, saying: “That’s probably the worst court on tour. Speed, bounces, everything. Pretty shocking.” The world number 19 was also unhappy about an incorrect line call that forced a replayed point on a second-set break point.

Nishikori, the 2015 Washington champion, is on an 18-month ATP title-drought since last raising a trophy at Memphis in February 2016, a run that includes six finals losses.

Zverev, a 20-year-old who reached a career ranking high this week, seeks his fourth title of the year after crowns at Rome, Munich and Montpellier.

Nishikori is playing his first event since a third-round exit at Wimbledon. Zverev reached the fourth round there, his deepest run yet in a Grand Slam tournament. — AFP