Kevin Anderson loses to Novak Djokovic and drops out from the top-100

Former world no. 5 and a two-time Major finalist Kevin Anderson gave his best against Novak Djokovic on Saturday at the ATP Cup, losing 7-6, 7-6 after having chances in both sets. Kevin had to skip all the action after Wimbledon last July, struggling with a knee injury that plagued his progress in the season behind us, winning just 11 matches and barely staying in the top-100 at the end of the year. Those points mainly came from Pune where Kevin won the title a year ago, losing those points this week and dropping out from the top-140 when the first ATP list of the year comes out on Monday!

The South African has been ranked in the top-100 since April 2010 and that streak had to end after that injury, missing the second part of the last season and entering only five ATP tournaments overall. After three notable seasons at the University of Illinois, Anderson embraced a pro career, still ranked outside the top-500 on his 21st birthday! By the end of 2008, Kevin almost established himself as the top-100 player before suffering a setback in the next year, dealing with injuries and having to wait until 2010 to show his full potential, standing just outside the top-60. In 2011, Anderson claimed the first ATP title in front of the home fans in Johannesburg and delivered a couple of rock-solid seasons to secure the place in the top-20, improving his game all the time and challenging the rivals from the top on both grass and hard court.

In 2017 and 2018, Kevin played for the Major title in New York and London, losing to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and cracking the top-5 after that loss to the Serb in July 2018. Kicking off the previous season ranked 6th (making a debut at the ATP Finals two months earlier), Anderson claimed the title in Pune before an early loss at the Australian Open, staying away from the court until Miami and never finding the form again. The South African had to undergo knee surgery in September, skipping all the tournaments after Wimbledon and working hard to make a strong comeback in 2020 and get back where he belongs. In that match against Djokovic in Brisbane, Kevin looked sharp and eager to fight against the players from the top again, hoping to recover the ranking position as soon as possible and start all over at this stage of his career.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/36skskb