More than a year after retiring in May of 2022, Kevin Anderson returned to tennis this week at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport.
Anderson’s first tournament back on tour was a success, as he advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday afternoon. The 6’8” South African defeated Gabriel Diallo and Gijs Brouwer earlier in the week, both in straight sets.
Anderson’s last even prior to retirement was the 2022 Miami Open. About eight months later he picked up a racket again–but just for some casual hitting at home in South Africa.
“I was hitting, just me and [my friend] just up and down the middle,” the 2018 Wimbledon runner-up reflected. “And I was like, ‘Man, I’m feeling great. And at the end of practice, Roger Federer was actually in town visiting. He came out to the courts and it was really a pretty profound experience.
“Up and down the middle, almost immediately, I felt like I hadn’t missed a beat. That’s the thing, I’ve played tennis my whole life, and I was moving well, and for me, the biggest thing in that environment is [there is] very little stress. I’m relaxed, I’m loose, I’m really using all of my capabilities.”
About nine months since that hitting session, Anderson is back.
did not see this comeback coming