SA's Anderson reflects on good year

The 29-year-old’s season culminated in his move to 10^th place on the ATP rankings in October, but has since slipped to 12th.

The high point of his year was winning the Winston-Salem Open in the USA in August, while he also made his first-ever quarterfinal appearance at a Grand Slam – but Stan Wawrinka pipped him for a spot in the semifinals at the US Open.

Anderson bowed out of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris this week. But he wasn’t knocked out without fighting and was beaten by one point by Rafael Nadal. While he lamented the defeat, Anderson reflected positively on the season.

“I’m really happy with the year. Getting to the top ten, making the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time and winning a title again – it had been a couple of years since that as well. I think those are the three biggest highlights for me, I’m better now than I was when I started the year and that’s always a big thing. I’m determined and motivated to come back stronger next year,” Anderson said.

Looking back at his round of 32 defeat to Nadal, the South African admitted that the Spaniard was just too strong.

“I gave it my all and on that match point I thought he was aggressive coming forward. Maybe I hit it to his forehand too much but even still, he hit an incredible shot – I didn’t think he’d get around that short side I hit. In the third set I ran out of gas a little bit, I was still trying and I had a few chances to get it back at 2-all. Obviously he is one of the best competitors and he was just a little bit too good at the end of the day.”

Anderson’s exit from the Paris Masters signalled the end of his 2015 tennis season.

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