Sports
Anderson beats Sam Querrey in last eight to spoil American party. He will face Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta to win a place in the final.
Updated : Sep 06, 2017, 12:32 PM IST
Kevin Anderson spoiled the American party at the US Open when the big-serving South African beat local favourite Sam Querrey 7-6(5) 6-7(9) 6-3 7-6(7) to reach his first grand slam semi-final on Tuesday.
Anderson's win ended the US presence in the men's draw while Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams have both qualified for the last four in the women's draw.
The 17th-seeded Querrey can blame himself for a meltdown in the first set tiebreak, where he lost five points in a row to allow Anderson into the lead under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 31-year-old Anderson, seeded 28th, will face Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in Sunday's final.
Anderson wins the last 5 points in the tiebreaker to take the first set off Querrey!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/9oPybirDa4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
"This is incredible, at this stage and playing on one of the most famous courts in the world, it feels absolutely fantastic," said Anderson, who became the first South African player to reach the last four of the US Open since tennis turned professional in 1968. "Losing the second set was really tough but I played each point at a time and it paid big dividends for me today."
Huge backhand return winner from @KAndersonATP en route to breaking Querrey early in the 2nd set!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
Anderson now leads 7-6 3-2...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/wPIhJCTEEL
The two big servers could not manage a break in the opening set and Querrey, who was hoping to be the first American male to make it to the last four here since Andy Roddick in 2006, moved 5-2 up in the tiebreaker but Anderson then played more freely and won five points in a row to take the lead.
Anderson guesses correctly and blasts a winner into the open court.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/cUUceofxbe
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
There was an early exchange of breaks in the second set with Querrey opening a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak before suffering another meltdown and finding himself trailing 8-7.
This time, however, the 17th seed regrouped and equalised on his eighth set point when Anderson returned long, triggering a huge roar from the crowd.
Absolutely MASSIVE forehand pass from Querrey to start the 2nd set tiebreaker!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/pwFd40AbFt
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
But the stands gradually cleared up as the match was sent deep into the night.
Anderson got a decisive break in the sixth game of the third set as Querrey struggled with his first serve and the South African held twice, finishing it off with a forehand winner down the line to lead two sets to one.
UNBELIEVABLE point in the 2nd set tiebreaker!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
Querrey converts on his 8th set point to take the 2nd set and it's now a set all...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/Pw3KSn3BCG
The fourth set was tightly contested again and went into another tiebreak.
Querrey saved a first match point with an ace at 6-5, set up a set point at 7-6, which Anderson staved off by forcing his opponent to slice a backhand into the net.
Kevin Anderson closes out the 3rd set, 6-3 and moves within a set of the #USOpen semifinals!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
Can Querrey turn it around?#USOpen pic.twitter.com/pMtNLsNYgN
The second match point was good enough for Anderson, who dominated the rally until Querrey's forehand sailed long.
Anderson and Querrey still battling:
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
it's 5-5 in the 4th set...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/cjVYMjDVI5
Big Time Tennis!@KAndersonATP starts off the 4th set tiebreaker with some clutch defense turned to offense.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/Oesgs6pRcv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
Massive effort!@KAndersonATP becomes the 1st to reach a #USOpen semifinal in the Open era by defeating Querrey 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6! pic.twitter.com/SwL1zitMHX
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
.@KAndersonATP had some nice words for the fans that stayed late to watch the conclusion of his QF match...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/KCreUw6dZD
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017