Kevin Anderson: US Open Player of Day Eight

Sep 7, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Kevin Anderson of South Africa celebrates after defeating Andy Murray of Great Britain on day eight of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

US Open Player of Day Eight: Kevin Anderson

Prior to the US Open, Kevin Anderson was 0-7 in grand slam fourth round matches. Among some tough losses in the last 16 was a particularly heartbreaking loss for Anderson at this year’s Wimbledon, where he fell to Novak Djokovic after having lead by 2 sets to love.

Today, Anderson won his first round-of-16 encounter, taking out Andy Murray 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6. It marked Murray’s worst grand slam performance since the 2010 US Open.

Murray entered the tournament as one of the favourites to take out the title. And indeed, he played a solid match on Monday – his winners to unforced errors differential was largely positive and he served up a plethora of aces.

But the Scot was no match for Anderson, who delivered perhaps the strongest performance of his career. His serve was impeccable, with his numerous un-returnable first strikes forcing one of the world’s best returners to stroll meekly across each side of the court between points. He also managed to construct points with his booming groundstrokes extremely well.

A particularly impressive period of the match occurred towards the end of the second set. Up 5-1, Anderson failed to serve out the set, allowing Murray to accumulate two more games and break points to put the set back on serve. Obviously anxious after his many failed attempts to reach a grand slam quarterfinal, Anderson found that his serve had deserted him. Regardless, he managed to fend off Murray’s break-back points and claim the second set. In doing so, he displayed a once-questionable resilience that should serve him well going forward in the tournament, and indeed in his career.

After dropping the third set, Anderson pushed the fourth set to yet another deciding tiebreak. And after some solid serving, and atypical Murray errors, he claimed the set and the match. At that point the usually stoic Anderson allowed a grin betray his usually steely demeanour. Not only had he achieved a then-seemingly impossible task, but he managed to cause a colossal upset in the process.

In the quarterfinals, Anderson will face off against Stan Wawrinka. A meeting with Wawrinka may just be a gift for the South African: Anderson has defeated Wawrinka the last four times that they have met. Of course, none of those encounters took place at a grand slam, and Wawrinka is known to turn on his game for the latter rounds at grand slams. But if Anderson can find a way to once again defeat Wawrinka, he will almost definitely be rewarded with a place in the world’s top ten.

Future top ten player or not, Kevin Anderson is our Player of the Day for Day Eight at the US Open.

Winner: Simona Halep

Her match with Sabine Lisicki was horrid, reminiscent of the Indian Wells final between Halep and Jelena Jankovic. But Simona Halep proved once again how much of a fighter girl she is, as she refused to let her subpar game stand between herself and a maiden US Open quarterfinal. Also, major kudos to Petra Kvitova for joining Halep in the Career Grand Slam Quarterfinal club.

Loser: Even More Injuries

If you turned on the TV during day eight of the US Open, chances are you were watching an injured, or cramping, player. The match between Simona Halep and Sabine Lisicki was underlined by mutual injury, as Halep was suffering from a leg injury and cramping back, while Lisicki’s body was giving way to cramps. The weather conditions that they competed in were extreme, so much so that it warranted a ten minute break between the second and third set.

In other news, Victoria Azarenka was forced to wear a few too many accessories after a reaction to clothing left her with blisters. This is on top of the heavy strapping on her leg.

Once again everybody – “rearrange the tennis tour schedules”.

Winner: Richard Gasquet

Richard Gasquet defeated Tomas Berdych in four sets to reach just his fourth grand slam quarterfinal. Yes, I found it just as surprising as many of you will – only his fourth? Regardless of his previous grand slam successes (or lack thereof), Gasquet is steadily working his way back into the form that made him a fixture in the world’s top ten, with a semifinal run at Wimbledon and at least a quarterfinal run here. He will next face Roger Federer, who has yet to drop a set all tournament and is in remarkable form.

And here’s a fun fact: Gasquet is 3-0 in grand slam quarterfinals. Could the Swiss maestro be in trouble?

Former Players of the Day

Day Seven: Kristina Mladenovic

Day Six: Victoria Azarenka

Day Five: Fabio Fognini

Day Four: Johanna Konta

Day Three: Madison Keys

Day Two: Caroline Wozniacki

Day One: Benoit Paire

Who do you think was the best player of day eight at the US Open? Let us know in the comments below!

Next: Power Ranking Serena Williams and the Top 25 Women Before the US Open

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