Gulf Stream’s Kevin Anderson easily dispatched his first competitor
in the Delray Beach Open, and then faltered against Y. Lu.
Anderson signs a South African flag for some of his fans after competing in Delray Beach.
Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
By Steve Pike
Less than one week after fighting his way out of a Memphis snowstorm, Kevin Anderson hit the road again. This time the Gulf Stream resident headed for much warmer weather — in Acapulco — for the ATP World Tour stop. Anderson finished second in the Memphis event and had a good showing in the Acapulco tournament, making it to the semi-finals before losing in three sets to top-seed Kei Nishikori.
In between Memphis and Acapulco, however, Anderson hit a bit of an unexpected speed bump.
The 6-foot, 8-inch native South African, who has lived in the Delray Beach/Gulf Stream area since 2012, was upset by Y. Lu of Taiwan in the second round of the Delray Beach Open on Feb. 18. Anderson, who won the event in 2012, was the tournament’s top seed and a clear favorite to return to the finals at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
“It is never ideal to start a tournament without a few practice sessions on the court surface you will be competing against, so in that respect I think the cards were definitely not in my favor,’’ Anderson said. “A day off between first and second round might have helped, but it is impossible to say.
“I love playing at home, so I am disappointed, but having come off a final the week before I’m still very happy with my results this year.’’
Anderson wasn’t making excuses, understand, just explaining the frustrating circumstances — not only on the loss but also in the loss of practice time. Aside from being known for a blistering serve and powerful baseline game, Anderson has earned the respect of fellow tennis professionals for his strong work ethic that his father, Michael, instilled in him (and his brother Gregory) from an early age.
“I usually have one long practice session every day, coupled with strength and or agility training,’’ said Anderson, who plays out of ProWorld Tennis in Delray Beach. “I seek physical treatment to make sure my body is in peak condition for competition. I also try to include one rest day a week, since physical health is incredibly important.’’
All of that work has paid off. Anderson, 28, has won more than $4 million in prize money over the past seven-plus years on the ATP Tour, including $228,000 this year. His current world ranking of No. 15 is the highest of his career. Anderson lost a fourth-round match to world No. 3 Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open this past January.
“Part of the progression,’’ said Anderson, who met his wife, Kelsey, while each attended the University of Illinois. “The biggest thing is just to remain confident in my ability to compete at the highest level. I have put a tremendous amount of effort into improving my game in the off-season, and now I need to trust it and believe in myself.
“Obviously there are always little things to work on in practice, I focus a lot on my serve and next ball as well as my returns, but my biggest key to success is feeling comfortable and confident with my game. Most of my practices will be designed to achieve that level of confidence.’’
Kevin and Kelsey Anderson (a native of West Palm Beach) each are regular fixtures in Delray Beach tennis events charities to promote the sport locally.
“We do everything we can to get our friends in the community out to participate with tennis,’’ said Kevin, who will become a U.S. citizen this summer. “Our neighbors have always been tremendously supportive, especially during the Delray Beach Open, when they all buy tickets to come watch my matches.
“I train locally, and often hit with junior players in the area, so I hope that even in some small way I can inspire the next generation and help them to improve along the way. I also have participated in local tennis exhibitions so people can see world-class tennis up close and personal at their local clubs.
“My wife and I would love at some point in the future to organize a local charity event, such as one I hosted in Chicago, consisting of a tennis exhibition as well as a kids’ clinic.’’
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