A credit to nation and game of tennis

SA’s Kevin Anderson proved to be a giant in more ways than one on the lush grass of Wimbledon’s centre court. The towering South African may have lost the final to a brilliant Novak Djokovic, but he still won the hearts of his countrymen with a courageous display. The Serbian technician, always the favourite, won in three sets to shatter the hopes of millions of South Africans. For a nation obsessed by soccer, rugby and cricket, “Big Kev” turned the attention of South Africans to a small patch of grass in London.

Praise has flowed in from all quarters, but he will specially value the words of the rector of his old school, St Stithian’s College, in Johannesburg.

Tim Nuttall said Anderson was an inspiration to the nation and all the children at the school.

Anderson attended St Stithian’s primary school and the high school before leaving the school in 2003.

Despite competing with the Fifa World Cup, Anderson’s exploits at times overshadowed the footballers.

Who will forget his marathon slugfest in the semifinal against American John Isner as both battled for a coveted place in the final?

He survived the longest-ever semifinal played at any of the majors when he went toe-to-toe with Isner for six hours and 36 minutes.

Anderson has been rewarded with a career-high top-five ranking and has won the respect of everyone who witnessed his incredible feats of endurance.

Maybe the occasion got to Anderson and he was unable to recover after a slow start.

The first SA man to reach the Wimbledon title match for 97 years, Anderson admitted he was wracked with anxiety and exhaustion as Djokovic swept through the first two sets.

Impressively, Anderson was humble in both victory and ultimately a painful defeat.

All South Africans will be hoping that this Wimbledon success proves to be a stepping stone to greater things.

Take a bow “Big Kev”, you are a credit to your nation and the game of tennis.