Kevin Anderson is back to the ATP Tour and his first match back at the 2023 Newport Open has been more than impressive.
After being away from the competition for over a year, the South African surprised everyone when he announced his return to tennis. He recently revealed that Roger Federer played a role in his comeback, but the Swiss Maestro wasn't on the tennis court in his first-round match, and Anderson had to rely only on his qualities.
Anderson’s return to the tennis court was no less than spectacular. He took on World No. 141, Gabriel Diallo, in what became a display of the old, charismatic Anderson we remember. Diallo, who played 10 matches on the grass court this year, was no match for Anderson's flawless game. Despite the long break, Anderson demonstrated that class is indeed permanent.
The first set saw Anderson at his usual best. He broke Diallo's serve twice, showcasing his aggressive style of play and impeccable timing. The second set didn't disappoint either. Anderson, even after being broken once, retaliated by breaking Diallo's serve thrice, taking the match 6-3, 6-2.
Anderson’s resilience and unwavering dominance were clear markers of his outstanding performance and echoed his former days of glory. The South African's statistics during the match were equally impressive.
He delivered 11 aces during the match and won a staggering 88% of points after his first serve. These figures are a testament to his serving qualities, a characteristic trait of Anderson's game that always helped him to win matches.
As Anderson advances to the second round of the tournament, he is set to play against Gijs Brouwer from the Netherlands, who eliminated the sixth-seeded Max Purcell from Australia, but given Anderson's return performance, this match promises to be a captivating encounter, with the former World No. 5 in the ATP Rankings having a chance to reach the quarterfinals in his first tournament back.
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