The Manila Times

Anderson to battle Del Potro in finals

- AFP

ACAPULCO, Mexico: South Africa’s Kevin Anderson moved one step closer to capturing his second consecutiv­e title with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over at the ATP Mexican Open.

Anderson, of Johannesbu­rg, won the New York Open crown two weeks ago.

The world No. 8 Anderson has Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro.

“It just feels great to win tonight’s match,” Anderson said. “When you’re out there, you’re not really thinking about finals and what happened before. In the heat of the battle, I thought it was a really tough match.”

Since last January, when he plunged to 80th in the world, Anderson has made five finals comprising Washington D. C., the US Open, Pune, New York and now Acapulco. He was runner- up at the 2017 US Open.

Anderson saw his ranking fall of as a result of a variety of injuries and health issues.

blasted six aces and broke Alexander Zverev’s serve three times en route to a 6-4, 6-2 win on Friday night.

Del Potro, who is seeded sixth, won 78 percent of his first- serve points and 55 percent of his second serves in the one hour, 31 minute match.

Zverev, of Germany, hammered 10 aces but had two double faults.

On the women’s side of the draw, defending champion Lesia Tsurenko earned a ninth straight victory at this event as she held off a late charge from Daria Gavrilova to return to the

Tsurenko will have the opportunit­y to play for her fourth career WTA title against Swiss Stefanie Voegele Rebecca Peterson 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

“I just really like it here. I think all the conditions for the tournament are just great and I know that all the players enjoy to play here,” the Ukrainian Tsurenko said.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson celebrates after winning against US Jared Donalson during their Mexico ATP 500 Open men’s singles semifinals tennis match in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico on Saturday.

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