A dream came true for 2.03-metre South African tennis 'skyscraper' Kevin Anderson in his home town last night when he won an ATP World Tour title for the first time
A dream came true for 2.03-metre South African tennis 'skyscraper' Kevin Anderson in his home town last night when he won an ATP World Tour title for the first time.
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| India's Somdev Devvarman returnsu00a0 to South Africa's Kevin Anderson during the SA Open final in Johannesburg last night. PIC/AFP |
Anderson overcame a nervous start and losing the first set to wear down dogged Indian Somdev Devvarman 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a rain-interrupted South African Open final at the Montecasino entertainment centre. "The rain delay helped ease my nerves. I knew it was crucial to hold my own serve and get a crack at his. Somdev is a great player because it is tough playing South Africans here with the altitude and crowd in their favour."
Devvarman, 51 places below Anderson in the world at 110, consoled himself with 40,300 dollars and 150 points after his second final loss. He finished runner-up to Croat Marin Cilic in the 2009 Chennai Open.
"Congratulations to Kevin who has beaten me a few times now. I know the crowd were backing him, but they also applauded me and I felt at home," he said.
Although Devvarman had made a habit of defeating other South Africans at Davis Cup and tournament level, he fell to Anderson in straight sets when they last met during the 2010 US Open.
Success for the World No 59, Anderson ended a long wait by South Africa for an ATP triumph with the last coming in Tokyo six years ago.
