Kevin Anderson exhibition match south africa
File photo, March 2019. Kevin Anderson. Source: Twitter/Kevin Anderson

Home » Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson Advance to 4th Round in Miami Open

Roger Federer and Kevin Anderson Advance to 4th Round in Miami Open

Roger Federer (whose mom is a South Africa expat) overcame a sluggish start to defeat Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-3, and SA expat Kevin Anderson’s booming serve proved too much for Joao Sousa as the big names advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open on Monday. Yay! “I definitely missed being on the match […]

By Reuters
26-03-19 19:01
in South African Sports Stars
Kevin Anderson exhibition match south africa
File photo, March 2019. Kevin Anderson. Source: Twitter/Kevin Anderson

Roger Federer (whose mom is a South Africa expat) overcame a sluggish start to defeat Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-3, and SA expat Kevin Anderson’s booming serve proved too much for Joao Sousa as the big names advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open on Monday. Yay!

Kevin Anderson. Source: Twitter/Kevin Anderson

“I definitely missed being on the match court after so long away with my elbow injury,” Kevin said on Twitter.

“Thanks to everyone for your support these past few weeks. It really means a lot! ?”

Serb Krajinovic broke Federer to jump to an early 2-1 lead and it looked like an upset could be in the works against the 20-times Grand Slam champion.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning a point against Filip Krajinovic of Serbia (not pictured) in the third round of the Miami Open at Miami Open Tennis Complex. Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

But fourth seed Federer broke back the next game and seized the momentum when he blasted a cross-court forehand winner to break Krajinovic again and take the closely fought first set.

The 37-year-old Swiss coasted after that, thanks to an overpowering serve that Krajinovic struggled to read.

Federer said he was able to shrug off his loss to Dominic Thiem in the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells last week because of his years of experience.

“Nowadays I am able to flush it out quickly. I was the worst at it when I was a teenager… right after it was all over I would cry and be so sad and disappointed,” he said.

“I wasn’t an angry person really, it just broke my heart.

“Nowadays I feel like ‘look, I gave it all I had’. Thiem came up with the goods, I maybe didn’t. That’s it, it’s over.”

Next up for Federer is a clash with 13th seed Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Anderson mixed 13 aces of his own with just one double-fault to seal a 6-4 7-6(6) victory over Portuguese Sousa earlier on Monday.

The towering South African sixth seed, who now lives with his American wife and their adorable dog (see below) in the USA, will be a heavy favourite on Tuesday when he faces unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 7-5.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters and Jenni Baxter/SAPeople)