Johannesburg – Having climbed to a career-high world ranking of 22nd this week, top South African tennis player Kevin Anderson embarks on a hectic programme next week with the objective of reaching the world's top 20 by the end of the year.
Competing in an ATP tournament almost every week from now until the start of the prestigious US Open at Flushing Meadows towards the end of August, the 27-year-old begins his quest in the Claro Colombian Open in Bogota on Monday.
Anderson's agent, Stuart Duguid, on Friday confirmed the 6ft 8in player would be entered in the Atlanta Open starting on July 22, the Citi Open in Washington on July 29, the Canadian Masters Open in Montreal from August 5 and the Cincinnati Masters from August 11, preceding the US Open.
“Kevin is in an excellent position to improve on his record over the corresponding period in 2012, thereby lift his ATP points tally considerably,” Duguid said.
He confirmed Anderson's itinerary after the Open was still in the melting pot - including a decision whether or not to play in the Euro-Africa Group One away Davis Cup tie against Slovenia which is due to be staged from September 13 - a week after the US Open.
“We have had no definite news about Kevin making himself available for the Davis Cup,” said Tennis SA CEO Ian Smith on Friday.
“The last news we had on the issue was Kevin saying he would decide tie-by-tie whether to play in the Davis Cup.
“Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager was mandated to discuss the matter with Kevin at Wimbledon, but he has not reported back up to this stage.”
Despite having qualified for the World Group play-offs for the past four years, the defeat against Poland earlier this year means South Africa is faced with the uneasy prospect of relegation to Euro-Africa Group Two.
Slovenia boast a seasoned Davis Cup line-up which includes the world's 44th-ranked Grega Zemlja.
He reached the third round at Wimbledon recently before losing to formidable Argentinean Juan-Martin Del Potro, while Aljaz Bedene (87th) and Blaz Kavcic (134th) are also in the squad.
Without Anderson in their squad, South Africa would be the under-dogs against Slovenia, with every prospect of plummeting down the Davis Cup ladder. – Sapa