Tennis | ATP World Tour Finals 2018 | Djokovic targets Anderson in the semi-final

By Ros Satar, at the Nitto ATP Finals

  • Novak Djokovic [1] v Kevin Anderson [4]
  • H2H: Djokovic leads 7-1
LONDON, UK – Novak Djokovic continues to close in on a record -equalling sixth title, but can he get past an in-form Kevin Anderson?

 

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Novak Djokovic [1] v Kevin Anderson [4] | H2H: Djokovic leads 7-1

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic stands perhaps on the brink of another period of dominance. Since opting to have elbow surgery, he has gone from strength to strength, winning two Slams on the trot, and his appearance in back to back Masters finals (winning Shanghai) returned him to the World No. 1 spot with no hope of being caught.

Kevin Anderson in the second round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals 2018, London
Kevin Anderson in the second round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals 2018, London | (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

However, the real revelation of the week has been Kevin Anderson. From his first match, his self-belief seemed solid as a rock as he looked untouchable. It was only against Roger Federer, who had to lift his levels by quite some way by the end of the round-robins, did Anderson’s foundations crumble a bit.

However, Anderson also finished his regular season with enough of a flourish for him to believe he deserved to be here, and we can expect him to go out fighting.

Anderson puts in so much work on his movement and his mobility, but for the first time this week it was shown up with those deathly slices that Federer can conjure up. In fact, Anderson can expect more of the same from Djokovic who will grind him down all he live ling day from the back of the court, but if he draws Anderson in to the net he can exploit his game.

It is not as if Anderson does not have a net game when he comes in, but wile Anderson can usually serve his way out of trouble, he is up against one of the best returners in the game, and the masterclass that Djokovic gave to John Isner shows that Anderson has his work cut out for him.

There will be no shame for the rangy South African to lose out to the World No. 1, a five-time champion and a man whose star is back on the rise, and he can feel very proud of his season.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets.

 

 

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