Premiere for Kevin Anderson against Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi
Kevin Anderson won the first semi-final against Rafael Nadal in three sets at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi. It was the first match for the Spaniard since the beginning of September.
by tennisnet
last edit: Dec 28, 2018, 04:02 pm
It may just have been an exhibition fight. For Rafael Nadal, the match against Kevin Anderson at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships nevertheless meant a first position determination after the injury-related time-out that the Spaniard had to take after his task against Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open.
And Nadal did not disappoint, even though Anderson won 4: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 4 in the end. The decisive break came from the Wimbledon finalist in the ninth game of the third set, after which Anderson served to enter the final.
In the final against Djokovic or Khachanov
For Anderson it was the second match in Abu Dhabi. The South African defeated Hyeon Chung at the start on Thursday. Anderson looks back on his best year - but was only able to get one set in five games with Nadal on the ATP tour.
The youngest match of the two took place at the US Open 2017, it was also the final game. The first Grand Slam final for Kevin Anderson, in which he had no chance against Nadal.
In the final in Abu Dhabi, the winner of the encounter between Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov is now waiting.