SA's Kevin Anderson climbs to career-high ATP ranking

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Kevin Anderson equalled his career-high ranking of eighth in the ATP singles rankings on Monday.

Anderson moved up one spot from ninth following his run to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California last week. The 31-year-old first reached number eight in the world on February 26.

The South African started 2017 at No 80 in the ATP Rankings after an injury-ravaged 2016. It was his lowest mark since August 2010. Anderson reached a then career-high ranking of 10th in October 2015 soon after beating Britain’s Andy Murray to reach the US Open quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro climbed two places to sixth after he defeated Roger Federer in the Indian Wells final.

The 29-year-old handed Federer his first defeat of 2018 with a 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/2) victory on Sunday, extending his own win streak to 11 matches including a title run earlier this month at Acapulco.

Federer himself reclaimed top spot just a month ago and remains marginally ahead of his eternal Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, who missed the American tournament with a leg injury.

A little team building with my physio @CarlosCosta_86 and a great way to relax the mind in between tournaments 🤓 #puzzle pic.twitter.com/QHsws4ZBPs

— Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) March 19, 2018