South African Kevin Anderson took another step forward at the US Open, after dispatching 46th-ranked Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, in one hour and 55 minutes on Court 17 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Wednesday.
“It was pretty hot out here today. The ball was flying around a bit,” said Anderson, who improved to a 35-13 win-loss match record on the year.
“The last game was obviously a little tricky, but overall, I played a great match. It’s always tough playing Jeremy. He’s a great friend of mine.”
Anderson lost just six points on his serve in the 30-minute first set, converting breaks in the third and seventh games. The fifth seed jumped ahead in the second, too, breaking his opponent to open the set.
Chardy, who rose to a career-high No. 25 in 2013 after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals, couldn’t work his way back into the match in the third. Serving at 2-all, 30-40, he could only watch as Anderson backhand approach sailed past him for the break. Anderson would need six match points to close it out, but fittingly ended it with a concussive ace, one of 17 on the afternoon.
It was on the same court on Monday evening that Anderson needed well over four hours to beat American Ryan Harrison in his opening round. The shorter second round victory was welcomed by Anderson’s team as it will allow him a better chance of faster recovery for his third-round match scheduled for Friday.
Anderson will now play rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov. Anderson has yet to face the Canadian teen.
The South African has adapted a more aggressive style and increasingly-confident approach, factors that should serve him well in his efforts to return to the Flushing finale.