Kevin Anderson aims for maiden Grand Slam final at US Open
"My biggest hope is that I'm able to inspire kids to play the sport"
Thursday 7 September 2017 14:24, UK
Kevin Anderson says his hope is to "inspire kids" in South Africa knowing he has the chance of a lifetime at the US Open on Friday.
Amid all the focus on world No 1 Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and now Juan Martin del Potro, the first semi-final between Anderson and Pablo Carreno Busta has understandably been overshadowed, but it is the chance of a lifetime for both men.
Neither has ever made the last four of a Grand Slam before, and whoever wins will be one of the most unlikely finalists for many years.
Anderson ended the hopes of American Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals and is the first South African player to make the last four at a grand slam since Wayne Ferreira 14 years ago.
It makes me feel good that I can hopefully fly a flag and show kids especially that if you work hard you can get there
Although he has lived in the United States for a long time, there has been a lot of excitement back home, with Anderson receiving messages from Ferreira and golfers Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen.
He said: "My biggest hope is that I'm able to inspire kids to play the sport. It's very tough coming from South Africa, far from the scene. It makes me feel good that I can hopefully fly a flag and show kids especially that if you work hard you can get there."
Anderson won both his previous meetings against Carreno Busta, including the Montreal Masters last month.
Should Anderson prevail, he will be the first South African man in a major final since Kevin Curren finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 1985. Curren was playing under the American flag at the All England Club but was still representing South Africa when he was the finalist in Australia in 1984.
Meanwhile, Carreno Busta says he is used to being completely overshadowed by his countryman Nadal, who has played in 25 Grand Slam semi-finals and won 15 majors, but hopes all the attention surrounding the world No 1 will help his own cause.
"Of course if you speak with some Spanish people about tennis, everybody knows Rafa," said the 26-year-old.
"It's true that Rafa is an incredible tennis player, is one of the best ever. But there are a lot of Spanish players, good Spanish players. And now I am in the semi-finals of the US Open, and I think it's as important as if Rafa arrives to the semi-finals.
"So maybe it's just easier when, in your country, Rafa has all the attention and you are very without this pressure."
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