Anderson through to maiden Major final

Kevin Anderson is through to his first Grand Slam final after a four-set win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Anderson, whose struggles with injury saw him outside the Top 90 in the world at the start of the year, downed the Spaniard 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4.

Playing in his 34th Major, the South African looked like he had just won the title after Busta netted a return on match point. Running to his coach, then climbing up into his player box, he was visibly emotional following the tough end to the match.

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“I don’t know what to say – I don’t know if the team hug is appropriate before the finals, but it felt like the right thing to do,” the 31 year-old said after the match.

“This is why I worked so hard. It was an unbelievably tough match for me. I was pretty nervous starting – I’m sure Pablo was the same it was the first time for both of us. I had to dig deep and I think my emotion at the end summed it up.”

With both men playing in their maiden Grand Slam semifinal, some early nerves were inevitable. Anderson was the first to blink after a sloppy service game at 3-3, and the single break was enough for Busta as the Spaniard edged to the opener.

But slowly Anderson started to settle, and his power game found its range. The groundstrokes were big, the serve bigger, and Busta was forced into simply hanging on under a barrage of massive tennis.

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With the South African in the ascendancy, Busta was increasingly on the back foot. Serving for the match it looked, for a moment, like Anderson might falter. But he rediscovered his poise, won a couple of sensational points, and soon found himself in his maiden Grand Slam final.

“I know I’ve given myself one more shot but I’m going to allow myself tonight the chance to celebrate the win,” Anderson cooed after the fact.

The celebration is deserved. So is the Slam final. Let’s hope that the former doesn’t impact the latter.