Johannesburg – Top South African tennis player Kevin Anderson was beaten in straight sets by world number three Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open on Sunday morning.
Seeded 14th in the tournament, Anderson was beaten in the fourth round, in two hours and eight minutes, losing 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, which brought an end to his 2015 Australian Open journey.
It was the third year in a row that the lanky South African had reached the round of 16, but a dominant display from Nadal meant Anderson could not book a spot in the quarter-finals.
On Friday, Anderson progressed to the last-16 in Melbourne, beating Richard Gasquet of France.
But Nadal was a hurdle too high for Anderson, who reached a career-high 15th place when the rankings were released at the start of this tournament on Monday.
Nadal admitted after the match that the scoreline flattered him somewhat, particularly in the first set, when Anderson had several break-points and chances which he failed to convert.
“The first set, I was very lucky to win,” Nadal said.
“Kevin is a fantastic player, he’s a great guy. We’ve known each other since we were kids.
“It’s always a pleasure to see a player from your age in the advancing rounds of one of the most important tournaments in the world.
“I wish him all the best. He’s a good person, that’s the most important thing, and a fantastic player.” – Sapa