No matter his age, no matter his ranking and results, no matter his injuries, Kevin Anderson kept trying to improve, and now comes the pay-off: his first Grand Slam final.
Taking full advantage of a depleted draw, Anderson became the lowest-ranked US Open finalist since the ATP’s computer rankings began in 1973, getting to the title match by beating Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Friday.
Anderson was so excited that he celebrated his semi-final victory as if it made him the champion, stepping on a chair and then a flower box to help him climb into his guest box in the stands.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Anderson, a 31-year-old South African, said.
“I don’t know if the team hug is appropriate but it felt like the right thing to do.”
Hip, leg and elbow injuries caused him to miss time this season. Ankle surgery, plus left knee, right shoulder and groin injuries were problems last year.
He is appearing in his 34th major tournament. He is ranked 32nd, but was seeded 28th at Flushing Meadows, thanks to withdrawals by several top players, including past champions Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka.
“It’s been a long road,” Anderson said. “These grand slams are tough.
“We’ve been privileged to play with some of the best players to ever play the game and it’s nice that some of them gave us a shot at this tournament.”
He had only once been as far as the quarter-finals at a major tournament until this week.
The 6-foot-8-inch Anderson is a big server and pounded down 22 aces, but it was his success returning against the 12th-seeded Carreno Busta that was the key to this victory.
After failing to get a break point in the opening set, Anderson generated 14 the rest of the way – and converted four, which was enough for the biggest win of his career.
“This is why we work so hard,” Anderson said.
“I think just my emotion at the end summed it up. I’m just over the moon.”
On Sunday, Anderson will play world No.1 Rafael Nadal or 24th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, who eliminated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.
Anderson has never beaten either.