Anderson’s date with destiny
ATP FINALS: FEDERER WILL BE LOOKING FOR REVENGE
Chris Bowers
For the second time this year, South Africa’s top tennis player Kevin Anderson faces Roger Federer in London. Four months ago, the two men played out a dramatic quarterfinal at Wimbledon, Anderson saving a match point after less than two hours and going on to win a 13-11 final set against the defending champion.
Now they face each other again in their final group match at the Nitto ATP Finals, on a different surface and in a very different set of circumstances.
In July they were playing for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals. Depending on how the result of the match between Kei Nishikori and Dominic Thiem goes, it’s possible both Federer and Anderson can make it to Saturday’s semis here, as the top two in each group go through to the knockout stage of the tournament.
There’s still a mathematical possibility that, despite two wins this week, Anderson won’t make it through the group stage. If Federer beats Anderson in straight sets and Nishikori beats Thiem in two sets, Anderson, Federer and Nishikori would all have two wins.
It would then come down to the best percentage of games won, and while it’s possible Anderson could come third in that countback, the fact that he beat Nishikori 6-0, 6-1 on Tuesday means it would take a mathematical miracle for him not to make it. A single set against Federer would guarantee his place, and even two close sets won by Federer would likely see Anderson through.
He is relishing the chance to take on Federer again. “It’s always a great challenge taking him on,” he said, “and it’s a great opportunity to play arguably the greatest player of all time, but I’ve played two really good matches so I’m excited to be facing him now.”
Federer was asked if Anderson’s marathon victory at Wimbledon would feature in his thoughts as he prepares for this match. “I don’t think a whole lot,” he said. “I played great against him for three sets, but after that he got tough, I blinked, and he was better at the end, so I don’t think I’ll go into this match thinking too much about that one.”
South Africa could well have two players in action on Saturday, as the country’s top doubles player Raven Klaasen could make it through to the last four of the doubles.
Klaasen and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus face the Colombians Juan-Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, knowing that a win would definitely see them through, but even a threesets defeat might be enough depending on the result of the Murray-Soares v Mektic-Peya group match. –