Kevin Anderson Struggles Through To New York Quarter-finals - UBITENNIS
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Kevin Anderson Struggles Through To New York Quarter-finals

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read
Kevin Anderson (zimbio.com)

Top seed Kevin Anderson endured a marathon start to his campaign at the New York Open after outlasting Ernesto Escobedo 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), in the second round.

Granted a bye in the opening round, Anderson didn’t play his first match in the tournament until Thursday. Taking on the world No.131, the US Open finalist managed to battle back with the help of his serve. Firing 22 aces and dropping just six points behind his first serve. Recording his first tour win since reaching the final of the Maharashtra Open at the start of the year.

“Playing Thursday is pretty late in the week and you are playing against an opponent who has already won three matches,” Newsday reported Anderson saying after the match. “He has a good sense of the conditions and I think that showed a little bit in the first set.”

Heading into the ATP 250 event, the South African has stated that his goal is to win the tournament. He hasn’t won a title on the tour for almost three years, last triumphing at the 2015 Delray Beach Open.

The next test for Anderson will be another American, Frances Tiafoe. The 20-year-old battled past Dudi Sela 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, to reach his first ever ATP quarter-final.

“They are really slow, balls are getting heavy,” Tiafoe said. “But for me it’s good, I have time to set up and wind up so it helps me a lot.”

Second seed Sam Querrey also progressed to the last eight of the tournament following a 6-4, 6-3, win over Mikhail Youzhny. Querrey, who is bidding to win his seventh ATP trophy on home soil this week, faces Ivo Karlovic next. A player he describes as a ‘pain.’

“He’s a pain to play,” Querrey said about the Croat. “He got a big serve. Against a guy with a huge serve you have to worry about your own serve.”

Karlovic defeated Ryan Harrison in straight sets during his second round match.

 

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