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https://scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/2110592/kevin-anderson-falls-short-us-open-first-grand-slam-final-straight-sets Tennis
Kevin Anderson falls short at US Open in first grand slam final in straight sets loss to Rafa Nadal
South African falls to a straight sets loss in his first major final
Kevin Anderson stands alongside Rafa Nadal with his runners-up trophy after the US Open. Photo: Reuters
Kevin Anderson walked outside to greet his South African supporters, some having already climbed to the top of their sport.
There were golfers Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, who have won major championships. And Johan Kriek, the last South African to win a grand slam tennis title who travelled two days in hopes of seeing another.
Anderson will have to hope for a second chance to join their club.
His first appearance in a grand slam final ended on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Rafael Nadal, who handled the big serve and forehands that were the catalysts of the No 28 seed’s surprising run.
“I definitely felt I was playing good enough tennis to give myself a chance tonight,” Anderson said. “It didn’t work out that way, up against a very tough opponent.”
Anderson managed just 10 aces – about half what he averaged in his previous six matches – and was in trouble in many service games starting early in the match. Once Nadal locked in on the 2.03-metre Anderson’s serve, it was clear Anderson would have to get into Nadal’s, but he never even got a break point.
“It was definitely difficult,” Anderson said, “and I think he had a pretty good read on my serve, and he was getting my serve games and he was holding quite comfortably.” 
Anderson poses with his runners-up trophy at the ceremony following the US Open final. Photo: AFP
But his success this summer, including another finals appearance in Washington, has the 31-year-old Anderson’s career headed back in the right direction.
His ranking had tumbled to No 80 in January, its lowest in six-and-a-half years, during a difficult start to his year that included a hip injury that forced him to miss the Australian Open. Anderson was hurt again in June, forced to retire from his fourth-round match at the French Open against Marin Cilic with another leg injury that slowed his Wimbledon preparation.
But after coming into New York at No 32 – he would have been the lowest-ranked US Open champion – Anderson will be back to the top 15 after his performance in Flushing Meadows. He’s eyeing a return to the top 10, where he was in October 2015. 
Nadal of Spain hits a return to Anderson during their US Open final. Photo: EPA
“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,” he said.
Kriek, like Anderson, now lives in Palm Beach, Florida, and worked hard to get to New York in hopes of seeing another South African title, driving out of the state Saturday morning – along with thousands of people evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irma – and eventually all the way to Nashville to hop a flight.
Kriek blew a two-set lead and to lost to Bjorn Borg in the 1980 US semi-finals, then captured the Australian Open the next year, so he believes Anderson can also bounce back – especially the way 30-somethings are dominating men’s tennis. 
Nadal shakes hands with Anderson after the straight sets win. Photo: AP
“I think this is a learning experience for Kevin,” Kriek said. “I think he’s been out there for a long time, but tennis has changed dramatically. ... You can play well into your 30s.”
Anderson and Nadal played as 12-year-olds, but their careers went in different directions. Anderson went to college, winning an NCAA doubles title at Illinois, so it’s taken him a while to catch up.
But he’s seen the way that South Africans love their sports champions and he won’t give up hopes of being one.
“So I’d love to build on these two weeks,” Anderson said. “Obviously it was very difficult, but I was able to find my way all the way in the finals. I’d love to, I mean, work very hard to hopefully give myself another opportunity.”