Kevin joins the tennis elite at ATP Finals

A new chapter in South African tennis history comes to be written this weekend when Kevin Anderson, above, competes in the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

That history is a mixed one. In 1974, South Africa became the first nation to win the Davis Cup other than one of the four Grand Slam powers (United States, Great Britain, France, Australia), but it won the final by default as India refused to play the apartheid regime.

Since then Wayne Ferreira and Amanda Coetzer have reached Slam semifinals but never a final, while Liezel Huber and Wesley Moodie have won major doubles titles.

But, at 32, the Anderson era is breaking new ground. Born and raised in Joburg but resident for many years in Florida where his wife Kelsey is from, the 6ft 8in giant reached last year’s US Open final, and in July he qualified for the Wimbledon final in the longest semifinal ever.

That, plus other achievements like a semi on the clay of Madrid and winning the title in Vienna last month, has earned him his place at the eight-man elite year-ending tournament that recognises the most consistent players of the year.

The ATP, which runs the men’s tennis tour, says Anderson is the second South African to play singles at the event after Wayne Ferreira in 1995. But Ferreira finished the race in ninth place and needed an Andre Agassi injury to get in, whereas Anderson has qualified as of right as the sixthbest player of this year.

Anderson cut a relaxed figure as he met the media at yesterday’s pre-tournament media day. He sported a poppy, the symbol the British wear at this time of year to honour those who died in the world wars, and exalted in being a tourist in London.

On Sunday the real business begins when he faces Dominic Thiem in the first singles match of the tournament (4pm SA time). That’s preceded by the opening doubles match, in which another South African qualifier, the Wimbledon doubles runner-up Raven Klaasen, competes at the ATP Finals for the second time.

Both men are guaranteed at least three matches in the round-robin format, with the best players and pairs going through to semifinals and finals.