Kevin Anderson is a Southern African tennis star who has held his own against many world superstar players in the court since his pro debut. He is currently ranked No. 6 in the ATP rankings. Anderson made triple history in 2018; he was the first Southern Africa player to feature in the final match of Wimbledon, after Brian Norton (1921), he ranked No. 5 (in August 2018) after Kevin Curren who featured as No. 5 in 1985 and he was in the second-longest (6 hours and 32 minutes) tennis game, with the American John Isner defeating him in the semi-finals with a powerful left-hand shot in the end.
He holds a total of 6 career titles; 5 ATP singles and 1 ATP double and has appeared in 4 major title championships, two finals (in US Open and Wimbledon 2018), as well as the 2008 Olympics and Davies Cup.
Kevin Anderson’s Biography
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 8, 1986, Anderson schooled in Illinois, United States. His first contact with the racketed game was at age 6. Kevin Anderson in his early years ran the tracks and competed actively in the 800-meter races before he turned his focus fully to tennis. He attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and actively played tennis with the school’s team.
In his three seasons of active tennis in the University of Illinois, he garnered titles in 2006 in the NCAA championship, and emerging three-times All-American.
Kevin Anderson turned Pro in the early 2000s and doggedly kept on improving the quality of his play and ratings at the professional scene of the Future tournaments and the challenge championships, where he built a name for himself and won admirations of many for the progress he made at the courts and his style of play.
He won his first career grand slam in the US Open in 2010 and first ATP title after he defeated Somdev Devvarman in the 2011 South African Tennis Open. Both victories saw him climb up to No. 40 in the world tennis ranking.
In 2015, he etched his name on the history books after he beat the British favorite, Andy Murray in the US Open although he later crashed out at the quarterfinals. His consistency at the different championships kept his ranking on the good side until he was brought down by an injury in 2016 which saw him go under the knife for a corrective surgery on his ankles while he also tried to recover from knee and shoulder injuries he sustained in the same year.
Kevin Anderson, who is currently coached by Brad Stine, rose from his many losses of 2016, sailing into the finals of the 2017 US Open where he locked horns against Rafael Nadal, losing to him as his runner-up in the tournament. He entered into the 2018 US Open but crashed out in the round of 16 after he was eliminated by the Austrian Dominic Thiem.
The Kevdog or Kevduck, as he is nicknamed by fans, held the world top-seeded player Roger Federer to 4 hours, long, tough play at the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, a game he vanquished him with just 2 points, with a score of 13-11 cruising safely to the semi-final where he knocked horns with John Isner in O2 Arena marathon game that lasted 3 days and was rated as the 3rd longest singles game ever in history.
He defeated him 6-3 7-6 and earned his way to his first Wimbledon final facing the world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. However, he lost the entire sets becoming the runner-up for Wimbledon 2018.
Anderson has in the past donated generously to the various charitable organization and to different causes including his $200,000 donations used in building schools and educating the less privileged kids in Zambia among others.
What to Know About His Parents and Siblings
The parents of the superstar are Michael and Barbara Anderson who were working as engineers but retired in 2007. His father, who was his first coach, now works in the hospitality sector (Hotelier). He taught his son how to use both hands in the game of tennis. His younger brother Gregory is also a tennis player and played college tennis at Morehead State University from 2006 to 2009 and is currently a coach in a tennis academy in New York City.
Who Is His Wife Kelsey O’Neal?
Kevin Anderson is married to his college girlfriend Kelsey O’Neal and they walked down the aisle on the 27th of November, 2011 in Wilmette, Illinois after many years of being together. Kelsey is an author and the tennis sports blogger born the same year as her husband – 11th November 1986 – in Glenview, Illinois. Her parents are Lynn and Timothy O’Neal.
The couple attended the same college and graduated with an Accountancy and Finance degree. She was part of the school female golf team and was very active in that sport till she graduated. Her sister, Megan is also an alma mater of the University of Illinois and was the University Athletics tri-captain.
The couple does not yet have any children but is simply enjoying their marriage and they have a great working relationship as she is her husband’s manager.
Height, Weight and Other Facts
1. He has got an imposing figure and he said to be the tallest man in the finals in a grand slam currently standing at a height of 6 ft 8 in (2.03m) with his long hands and arms which is an asset to him in the game of tennis.
2. He has a complementary weight of 94 kilograms (208 lb) which goes well with his towering height.
3. He had a surgery in his right elbow as a kid that left him practicing tennis using his left hand and eventually became ambidextrous (ability to use both hands).
4. Kevin Anderson and Rafael Nadal competed against themselves from the age of 12 at the Junior Circuits although Nadal has more experience in grand slams than he.
5. His total career earning so far is estimated to be within $14,588,933; he has earned about $ 4,347,352 as prize money and also enjoys extra incomes from endorsement deals and his sports website.
