Anderson the rocket fuel Tennis SA needed
“To be honest, TSA would be better prepared to leverage on Kevin’s success in 12 months’ time, rather than now, but we are not complaining. Kevin’s success at the US Open could prove to be rocket fuel for our sport ... it is now up to TSA to finish building that rocket,” said Glover.
Glover said the first of a number of Development Centres will be opened in the Western Cape next month with others to follow in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. Moreover, next month, squads in age groups ranging from 12 to 18 will be selected to attend regular training camps, where they will work with some of the country’s top coaches as part of individual training programmes designed to develop them as players.
Even without Anderson’s attention grabbing run in New York, Glover said tennis in South Africa was starting to turn around its fortunes having signed new sponsorships, which will help to create monthly financial packages for the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams. Lessons were also taken from how TSA, which for years was beset by administrative in-fighting, helped and did not help Anderson in his growth as a young player.
“Having spoken to Kevin, his mother, as well as several TSA stalwarts, who have been in the system for years, I have come to the conclusion that – while our federation has supported Kevin more than most people realise, on balance we have not supported him enough,” said Glover.
“In short, both he and his family have made huge sacrifices to get him to where he is today. This is their triumph – not ours.”
Anderson, picked up a runners-up cheque of about R23.6-million for his fortnight’s work at Flushing Meadows and rose to number 15 on the ATP rankings list released yesterday.
He is now targeting a place in the top eight, with a view to qualifying for the World Tour finals, which will be played in London in November.
“I feel like when I’m taking care of the stuff I need to, the ranking will take care of itself,” said Anderson following his defeat on Sunday night. “It’s great to sit back at the end of the week and see the jump that I have made and the spots I have been able to climb, something I can be very proud of.
“When I play my next tournament, it will be back at sort of square one in that sense. Everyone will be very determined whoever I’m playing in that match (to beat me), and regardless of what happened these two weeks, I can take confidence. But I’m really going to have to reset and would love to have obviously a very strong finish to the year.”
His runners-up spot in New York represented a remarkable comeback after struggling with a hip injury at the start of the year that Anderson initially thought would require surgery. The respect he holds among fellow professionals was highlighted by his conqueror Nadal, who took time to praise Anderson’s work ethic.
“You are a great example for kids and the rest of the tour TODAY Football Uefa Champions League, Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain, 8.40pm, SS1; Chelsea v Qarabag, 8.40pm, SS2; Man Utd v Basel, 8pm, SS3; Roma v Atletico Madrid, 8.40pm, SS5; Barcelona v Juventus, 8.40pm, SS6; Bayern Munich v Anderlecht, 8.40pm, SS8 Uefa Youth League, Barcelona v Juventus, 3.55pm, SS6; Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain, 5.55pm, SS6 ... you had tough injuries, and came back better than ever,” said the legendary Spaniard.
Nadal also indicated just what an achievement it was for Anderson to even make a final of a Major in the current era, which has been dominated by three of the greatest players the sport has known.
“In my career, I have been involved in different rivalries. I feel lucky to be part of all of them in some way,” said Nadal. “In another way, I have been in an era that three players achieve 19 (Major titles, Roger Federer), 16 (himself) and 12 (Novak Djokovic). That’s a lot, no? So, that means (it) was difficult for everybody to win titles in this era.”