Kevin aims high in 2020

– Former world number five Kevin Anderson (below) showed he was on his way back after an injury-ruined 2019 when he thrashed Chile’s Cristian Garin 6-0, 6-3 in their ATP Cup tie in Brisbane yesterday.

Anderson’s win clinched the tie for South Africa following Lloyd Harris’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nicolas Jarry.

Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse made it a clean sweep for South Africa when they beat Garin and Jarry in the doubles 1-6, 6-3, 10-7.

Anderson, 33, missed the second half of last year after suffering a knee injury at Wimbledon in July, with the South African undergoing surgery in September.

He played his first match back against world No 2 Novak Djokovic on Saturday, pushing the 16time Grand Slam winner to the brink before falling 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6).

Djokovic noted that Anderson’s absence “didn’t really affect his game that much”.

And after his 74-minute demolition of world No 33 Garin, there is little doubt that the towering South African will be a dangerous unseeded floater in the Australian Open draw.

Anderson, who stands at 2.03 metres (6ft 8in) fired down 11 aces in his win over Garin and did not face a break point.

“My best ranking is top five, so I would like to get back there,” he said.

“But the two biggest goals – I want to win a Masters series. I feel like that’s something that I’m definitely a good enough tennis player to do it. I’ve put myself in good positions but haven’t quite taken that step.

“Then, obviously, a Grand Slam. I’ve been in two finals. That’s the ultimate goal for me. It’s one that I really feel like I have a good chance of doing.”

The 22-year-old Harris, coming off his best year in 2019, was impressive in his win over a player ranked 22 places above him. – AFP