U.S. Open player to watch: Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson

Residence: Johannesburg, South Africa
Age: 25
Rank: 34
6-8, 197 pounds
Righthanded, two-handed backhand
Next match: Saturday vs. Mardy Fish

Anderson is one of the skyscrapers of men’s tennis. He’s 6-8, but at only 197 pounds he seems as skinny as his racket handle. At that height, you might imagine that he has a big serve. What you might not imagine is that he has control of it. In his quick three-set victory over 29th-seed Michael Llodra yesterday he served 14 aces and had only one double fault. He had an 84 percent first-serve average. He hasn’t lost his serve in two matches.

The South African is based in Chicago. He went to school at the University of Illinois. South Africa has a history of producing golf champions. Tennis is much more of a minor sport there. “I’ve always had a dream to play tennis, but there isn’t much happening in South Africa,” Anderson said. “I pretty much need to base myself in the U.S.”