Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson is a South African tennis player who has become a regular presence in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.

Standing an incredible 6'8" tall, Anderson turned heads with his mammoth serve right from the beginning of his career. In recent years however, he has developed a well-rounded game that has helped him challenge all the top players at all the big events.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:

Australian Open: 4th Round (2013, 2014, 2015)

French Open: 4th Round (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018)

Wimbledon: Runner-up (2018)

US Open: Runner-up (2017)

Highest Ranking: No. 5

Style of play

Anderson's game is the very definition of Big Boy Tennis. He uses his serve and forehand to attack relentlessly, and very rarely backs off behind the baseline.

Anderson's groundstrokes are flat and forceful, which he uses to move his opponents from side to side. He doesn't come to the net too frequently, and relies primarily on his forehand to end points.

Anderson doesn't exhibit touch tennis too often, and only rarely employs the drop shot or the lob. He doesn't slice his backhand a lot either, and instead prefers to drive through the ball at all times.

Strengths and weaknesses

Anderson has a massive serve, and regularly clocks over 110 kph even on the second delivery. He hits a ton of aces every match, and also gets a lot of free points even if the opponent gets a racquet on the ball.

Anderson's forehand is a force of nature too; he uses his full height to hit down on the ball, which means his groundstrokes always have a lot of flat power.

The South African's backhand is decidedly his weaker wing, but in recent times he has worked hard to make it a fairly reliable shot. His return of serve is also a tad sub-par, as he often struggles to break the opponent's serve.

Anderson moves well for a tall man, but his foot speed is considerably slower than most other players in the top 10.

Personal life

Anderson was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, but moved to the United States shortly thereafter. He took up tennis at the age of 6, and by the age of 12 was a notable presence on the junior circuit, where he frequently faced off against a young Rafael Nadal.

Anderson was a very successful college player, winning several trophies for the University of Illinois. His college commitments meant that his pro career was a little delayed, but he made up for lost time the moment he started playing on the ATP tour.

In 2011 he married his long-time girlfriend Kelsey O'Neal, and the two now live together in Florida.

For a long time Anderson was unfairly brushed off as a one-dimensional servebot, but his willingness to improve has helped him shed that image and turn into an all-round threat. He reached Grand Slam finals in consecutive years, at the 2017 US Open and 2018 Wimbledon, proving that he was a legitimate challenger to the elite of men's tennis. And his epic Wimbledon semifinal win against John Isner, which lasted an incredible 6 hours and 36 minutes, will live in the memory of fans for a long time to come.

The South African has also endeared himself to the fans with his humility and easygoing attitude. His peers regularly commend his sportsmanlike nature, and it would be fair to say that Anderson has well and truly earned the respect of the tennis world - both with his game and his personality.

Social media presence:

Kevin Anderson Instagram: @kandersonatp

Kevin Anderson Twitter: @KAndersonATP