Anderson sweeps into Final from Richard Evans, Delray Beach

Written by: Staff on 22nd February 2014

Anderson sweeps into Final from Richard Evans, Delray Beach

epa04025990 Kevin Anderson of South Africa returns to Edouard Roger Vasselin of France during their third round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2014. EPA/MADE NAGI |

Kevin Anderson lives one and a half miles from the site of the Delray Beach Open and the 6 ft 8” South African could not have looked more at home as he swept into the final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Steve Johnson.

Anderson, who played for the University of Illinois during his college days, had lost to Johnson, the 24-year-old ex-USC star, on the only other occasion they had met as pros in the New Zealand Open last month. But Johnson was never allowed to feel he had a chance of a repeat victory.

A slow start was the American’s undoing as Anderson came at him all guns blazing with massive serves; some good volleying and penetrating returns. Johnson seemed more in control of his game in the second set and was able to stay in contention for the first six games before Anderson forced the breakthrough.

“Maybe he was a little nervous in the beginning, this being his first ATP semi-final,” said Anderson who won this title in 2012. “But I did good on my serve, hitting my spots like I try to do in practice so I was very comfortable out there. I practice on this court when I’m at home, of course. It is quite bouncy and I like that.”

Despite this disappointment, Johnson has enjoyed a breakthrough week on the Florida coast, using his big top-spin forehand and usually solid game to oust No 2 seed Tommy Haas in the second round and the experienced No 6 seed from Spain, Feliciano Lopez, in the quarter-finals. Having started out in qualifying, the week can be chalked up as a success for the Californian. Johnson was ranked 142 on the ATP computer coming into this event but now has his sights set on the world’s top hundred – a goal that should be within his reach in the coming months. He should rise to around 118 on Monday.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Delray Beach, Feliciano Lopez, Kevin Anderson, Richard Evans, Sports, Steve Johnson, Tennis, Tennis News, Tommy Haas

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February 22, 2014 at 4:21 pm

Anderson sweeps into Final from Richard Evans, Delray Beach- http://t.co/aNDjWQLB2L @kevinanderson18 #Delray #beach #tennis #news