ANDERSON HOPES TO BUILD ON RUN TO FINAL
Mixed emotions for SA star player after losing US Open title to Spaniard
DO not count him out just yet, says Kevin Anderson, after an impressive two-week run to his first grand slam final ended in failure when he lost to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final. The big-serving 31-year-old South African fell to the top-ranked Spaniard 6-3 6-3 6-4 on Sunday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, never managing a break-point chance in falling to 0-5 lifetime versus the 16-time slam winner.
“I’d love to build on these two weeks,” Anderson said.
“It was very difficult, but I was able to find my way all the way into the finals. I’ll work very hard to hopefully give myself another opportunity.”
Sad yet bolstered, Anderson was of two minds after finishing.
“It’s a bit of both. It’s a tough loss, but it was obviously a great experience,” he said.
“It was very tough, but definitely a part of that were a few moments that were pretty special.
“There were a few lessons I learnt from him. When I reflect back in the next little while, I think a lot of the good memories will definitely surface.”
Anderson is pushing to display more emotion in matches, although he is a long way from the most flamboyant fist-pumpers on tour.
“Maybe it is a bit more natural for me now. When I’m going out there, it doesn’t feel as forced. I’m not thinking about it as much,” he said.
“Tennis is very mental and I have definitely proved to myself it’s something I can rely on.
“I’ve always been a tough competitor. I’ve always fought. This is just adding an element, something I will definitely be continuing with.”
Anderson had never reached a slam semifinal before last week, let alone a title match. His best prior slam run was to the 2015 US Open quarterfinals.
Anderson was the oldest first-time slam finalist since 33-year-old Yugoslavian Niki Pilic at the 1973 French Open.
He was the first South African in the US Open final since Cliff Drysdale in 1965 and in any slam since Kevin Curren at the 1984 Australian Open.
At 32nd in the rankings, Anderson was the lowest-ranked finalist in US Open history, eclipsing 22nd-ranked Australian Mark Philippoussis from 1998.
With his run to the finals, Anderson was to jump to 15th in yesterday’s new rankings despite hip, thigh, leg and elbow injuries that forced him out of four tournaments this year and a fourthranked French Open match against Marin Cilic.
With a now-mildly modest goal of reaching the top 10, and four of those ahead of him likely out for the rest of the year, Anderson might approach his career-best ranking of 10th from October 2015 – a number he would have reached yesterday had he upset Nadal.
“The target of getting back to 10 is something I set myself a little while ago,” he said.
“When I’m taking care of the stuff I need to, the ranking will take care of itself.
“It’s great to see the jump I’ve made and the spots I have been able to climb, something I can be very proud of.”