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Associated Press

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.”
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.
Rafa Nadal rolls to third US Open title and his 16th career major crown
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.
“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.
Massive boost for Hong Kong Tennis Open as it’s revealed that US Open champion Sloane Stephens is set to participate
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.
“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.”


Year in tennis: ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry splits men’s grand slams while 4 share women’s titles

Andre Agassi on Hong Kong, his comeback and learning to live in the present

Aryna Sabalenka on loving Hong Kong, Steffi Graf and inspiring young players

National Games: Hong Kong tennis chiefs hope golden November will boost sport’s elite status

US Open (tennis)

Kevin Anderson falls short at US Open in first grand slam final in straight sets loss to Rafa Nadal

Kevin Anderson stands alongside Rafa Nadal with his runners-up trophy after the US Open. Photo: Reuters

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, right, shakes hands with Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, after winning the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

epaselect epa06197131 Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their US Open Tennis Championships men's final round match at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2017. The US Open runs through September 10. EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES *** Local Caption *** 53000073

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Kevin Anderson of South Africa and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose during the trophy ceremony after their Men's Singles Finals match on Day Fourteen of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Rafael Nadal defeated Kevin Anderson in the third set with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Massive boost for Hong Kong Tennis Open as it’s revealed that US Open champion Sloane Stephens is set to participate

US Open champion Sloane Stephens is set to compete at the 20127 Hong Kong Tennis Open in October. Photo: Xinhua

Champion Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark celebrates at 2016 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open in Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. 16OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

(170910) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Sloane Stephens of the United States celebrates during the women's singles final match against Madison Keys of the United States at the 2017 US Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 9, 2017. Sloane Stephens won 2-0 to claim the title. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

(170910) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Sloane Stephens of the United States celebrates after defeating her compatriot Madison Keys during the women's singles final match at the 2017 US Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 9, 2017. Sloane Stephens won 2-0 to claim the title. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

Sport

Tennis

South African falls to a straight sets loss in his first major final


Kevin Anderson falls short at US Open in first grand slam final in straight sets loss to Rafa Nadal

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}South African falls to a straight sets loss in his first major final

South African falls to a straight sets loss in his first major final