Johannesburg – South African men's singles tennis ace Kevin Anderson and doubles specialist Raven Klaasen ended the 2014 season in the top 20 on the World Tennis Rankings released on Monday.
Anderson, who finished the season in a career-high 16th spot after starting the year wavering in 20th place. He climbed to an all-time best 18th ranking in March and worked his way up to 16th in early October where he closed out the year, despite a couple of stumbles in between.
In August last year, the big-serving Anderson became the sixth South African men's singles player to break into the world top 20.
Other South Africans ranked inside the top-20 in the past were Kevin Curren ranked number five in July 1985, Wayne Ferreira reached number six in May 1995, Johan Kriek seven in September 1984, Cliff Drysdale 13 in May 1974 and Christo Van Rensburg was ranked 19th in February 1988.
Meanwhile, Raven Klaasen finished his season ranked 20th in the men's double.
It proved to be a breakthrough year for Klaasen, who reached the final of the men's doubles at the Australian Open with American partner Eric Butorac earlier this year.
The result saw the South African move up four places to 26th at the time, after he started the year in 45th place on the rankings.
Klaasen again reached a career-high 22 in July when he and Butorac bowed out in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, losing to French pair Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-7(4), 3-6.
The 32-year-old Klaasen broke through the world top 20 for the first time in October when he and his American partner won the men's doubles at the Stockholm Open, defeating Treat Huey of the Philippines and Jack Sock of the US 6-4 6-3.
Earlier this month Klaasen shot to a career-high 17th after reaching the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters.
He has since dropped three places to end the year in 20th position.– Sapa