MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Kevin Anderson of South Africa used his big serve to beat Donald Young of the U.S. 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Memphis Open semifinals on Saturday.
The second-seeded Anderson became only the third South African to reach the final in Memphis and the first since Wayne Ferreira in 1992.
He will play either two-time defending champ Kei Nishikori of Japan or American Sam Querrey on Sunday.
"It's great," Anderson said. "I have a shot at winning a title tomorrow, and that's what I came here to do."
Anderson had 13 aces improving to 5-1 all-time against Young on the ATP World Tour. He also won 78 percent of his points on his first serve.
Young came in ranked 67th and tried to reach his second career final and first since Bangkok in 2011. But Young struggled with his serve and had five double-faults in his fourth career ATP semifinal.
"It was tough for me," Young said. "I didn't serve the way I wanted to, but he played well overall for sure."
Anderson had four aces in his first three service games, but Young broke him to go up 3-2. Young answered Anderson's big serve with a forehand up the line for the break at 30-40. Serving for the set, Young double-faulted to go to deuce. Anderson hit a forehand wide after a rally, then Young closed out with a service winner to win the first set in 32 minutes.
Young had his best chance tied at 2-2 in the second set with four break points up 40-0 when he had a backhander go wide after hitting the net.
"I thought if it didn't hit the net, it would've been a winner and could've changed the whole match," Young said. "But it didn't happen."
Anderson, who came in 4-1 against Young, broke him in the sixth game. Young was up 40-15 before Anderson took the next four points, breaking Young with a forehand down the line for a 4-2 lead. Anderson served out, forcing a third set.
The South African then broke Young to go up 4-3 and later served out the match to progress to his first final since Acapulco last year. – Sapa-AP