ATP/Wimbledon: Kevin Anderson: Latecomer with favourite potential

Kevin Anderson was in his second Grand Slam final in Wimbledon and had to admit defeat again. But who is the serving giant from South Africa?

Kevin Anderson does not polarize. The South African is calm, focused, carefully interviewed and acts with prudence on the pitch. The Wimbledon finalist, who was beaten in four sets by Novak Djokovic, did not enter the limelight of the big tennis stage until late. But all the more likeable.

Anderson has been on the professional tour since 2007 and only made the big breakthrough last year. With its participation in the US Open Final, the 2.03-metre stage made headlines worldwide for the first time. It wasn’t enough for the big coup against too strong Rafael Nadal, but Anderson collected en masse sympathies.

On August 12, 2013, he was among the top 20 players in the world for the first time and was expected to stay there with minor interruptions. But nobody really had the South African on the piece of paper. It was known that Anderson could serve well – Anderson was put something in the drawer by John Isner, Ivo Karlovic and Co. – but he was not noticed. Anderson doesn’t belong in this drawer.

Anderson moves a lot better than his cronies of similar stature. The 32-year-old is agile, flexible and, in addition to the serve, can do a lot for the return.

Anderson benefits from his enormously hard work off the pitch and pays off against fast-playing opponents. The gentle giant with fast legs runs to stops and remains calm at all times. The audience only gets to see a few moments in which Anderson lets out a negative emotion. The two-time Grand Slam finalist is cheering himself on.

Besides his charisma on the court he convinces beside the court. Even after great victories, such as the marathon semi-final against his US colleague John Isner, Anderson remains calm and shows respect for his opponent.

Anderson celebrated the greatest success of his career in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, when he was trailing Roger Federer by two sets and destroyed his dream of the ninth triumph. Again he remained calm, did not fall to the ground theatrically. Anderson stretched his arms into the sky to almost humbly shake Federer’s hand the next moment.

In 2016, the world looked anything but rosy for Anderson. Problems on the left knee, right shoulder, wrist and adductor area put the service giant out of action after he was among the world’s top ten players for the first time.

The low point in his career was also a new beginning for Anderson, who made a successful comeback after an operation and played his best tennis. A career high of seventh place in 2018 was the reward for the hard work of the three-time All-American College Champion for his university in Illinois.

After Wimbledon, Anderson will reach another milestone in his career, have prevailed in fifth place in the world rankings and is hoping for the big coup. “Maybe I’ll hold this trophy in my hands for once, we’ll see,” Anderson said with a smile after the Wimbledon final.

During the showdown in London, it turned out that Anderson also shows foresight. As vice-president of the ATP Players Council, the South African is committed to the environment and wants to keep the plastic racket packaging away from the tennis courts in the future. His eyes had been opened, Anderson said in Wimbledon. The oceans must be helped and he and his colleagues should serve as role models when it comes to plastic consumption, continued the 32-year-old.