Kevin Anderson, US Open 2017
Photo: AP/REX/Shutterstock | Kevin Anderson US Open 2017, Flushing Meadows, New York

Tennis | ATP World Tour Finals 2018 | Anderson looks to wrestle back control of head to head against Thiem

By Ros Satar, at the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals

  • Kevin Anderson [4] v Dominic Thiem [6]
  • Anderson looking to impress on his debut
LONDON, UK – Kevin Anderson may have achieved one of his goals to reach the season-ending finale, but he won’t be resting on his laurels as he faces Dominic Thiem first.

 

-Latest player gear | Pro:Direct Tennis Shop-

Buy the latest gear from the top players from the Pro:Direct Tennis Shop and check out their 80% off sale on selected tennis equipment now on

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]

 

Kevin Anderson [4] v Dominic Thiem [6] | H2H: Anderson leads 6-2

Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals of the ATP Mutua Madrid Open, 2018
(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

It might be Kevin Anderson’s debut, but he is by no means here by accident. Building on 2017 where he made his first Slam final at the US Open, he backed that up with an exhausting run to the Wimbledon final, and picking up a couple of titles this season.

While he is happy to be here, he is keen to arrest Dominic Thiem’s current winning streak over him this year on tour. Anderson had the measure of the young Austrian all the way up to the start of the year at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships. Maybe predictably Thiem beat him in Madrid but maybe more surprisingly ended Anderson’s quest to defend his points from reaching the US Open final the previous year, ousting him in the fourth round.

Anderson of course has his serve, and depth off both wings to count on, and he is perhaps a little more adept at the net than people give him credit for. Thiem will look to impose an aggressive baseline game, and his equally solid off both wings. His knack fora dept defence means he often outlasts his opponents in a point, and his serve is not bad either.

Both had a decent run in to the tournament, and have been in title winning form with Thiem winning in Saint Petersburg. This one has all the hallmarks of going the distance to start the tournament off.

Prediction: Anderson in three sets.

Anderson and Thiem are scheduled not before 2pm.

READ MORE | Nitto ATP World Tour Finals 2018 | Latest Schedule & Draws

Nitto ATP World Tour Finals 2020 | Latest Schedule & Draws

 

[polldaddy poll=10161201]