Kevin’s hard work paying dividends
FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN IN FINAL IN 52 YEARS He seems to have finally got over his spate of injuries.
Making a long-awaited breakthrough at the highest level, Kevin Anderson admitted he was relieved to have all the hard work pay off at the US Open over the last two weeks.
Anderson established his place among the top players in the world by climbing to a career-high No 10 ranking when he reached the quarterfinals in New York two years ago.
Multiple injuries pushed him back, however, and late last season he had tumbled to 70th place in the global rankings.
“Last year was quite tricky for me with a lot of stopping and starting,” Anderson told the US Open website ahead of his final against top-ranked Spanish giant Rafael Nadal late last night.
Though he underwent minor ankle surgery in 2016, and had to shake off various other niggles, Anderson’s hip was the main catalyst in his struggle to regain his best form.
“That was probably the most severe injury. It seemed like surgery was maybe even on the table,” he said.
“I was fortunate to have escaped that whole thing.”
Despite being better known as a hard-court specialist, due to his lightning serve, the lanky South African bounced back by reaching the fourth round on clay at the French Open in June and progressed to the same stage on grass at Wimbledon in July.
Taking another big step forward, he defeated Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in their semifinal clash at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, becoming the first SA player to reach the US singles final in 52 years, and the first to do so in the Open era.
“Starting this year I felt in good shape,” Anderson said.
“I had worked very hard and was hitting the ball great, but just wasn’t really finding that form out on the match court.
“I feel like in the last while, things have turned around.”