Kevin Anderson retires at age 35 from professional tennis

JOHANNESBURG: Two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson announced his retirement from professional tennis on Tuesday at age 35.

The 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) South African was the runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open in 2017 — No. 32 at the time, Anderson was the lowest-ranked finalist in tournament history — and to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2018.

Anderson won seven ATP Tour singles titles, most recently at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, last July. All of his trophies came on the speedier surfaces of grass or hard courts, which helped add oomph to his booming serves.

"Tennis carried me far beyond my roots in Johannesburg, South Africa, and truly gave me the world," Anderson wrote on Twitter in posts about what he called a "difficult decision to retire."

"I've experienced so many different challenges and emotions; this sport can be exhilarating and at the same time lonely," he said.

Anderson played college tennis at Illinois, where he won the 2006 NCAA men's doubles championship and was an All-American for three seasons. In 2007, he helped Illinois to a runner-up finish as a team.

After turning pro that year, Anderson claimed his first tour-level title at home in Johannesburg in 2011. Agencies

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