Dylan Bettencourt
Arguably South Africa’s finest ever tennis player, Kevin Anderson, has announced he is retiring from the sport after an illustrious career.
The 35-year-old announced on social media that he had “finally made the difficult decision to retire.”
Anderson, who stands at over 2 metres tall, made it to a US Open and Wimbledon final in a career highlighted by his strong serve and aggressive playstyle.
The South African turned professional in 2005 but has struggled with injuries of late.
Anderson won seven ATP titles in a career that saw him peak at number five in the world rankings in July 2018.
“I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t playing tennis,” Anderson tweeted in his retirement message.
“I started on the journey 30 years ago when my Dad put a racquet in my hands and told me if I was willing to work hard, I could be one of the best players in the world.”
Anderson said the world of tennis has provided many ups and downs throughout his career, but he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“My journey helped me become the man who I am today. Today, I finally arrived at the difficult decision to retire from professional tennis,” he added.
Anderson ended his statement by thanking all those who were a part of the journey that took him to international stardom.
“I am so thankful for the wonderful things that have come my way purely because I was part of the sport,” he said.
“As a kid, my dad used to tell me success isn’t defined by results but by the effort and sacrifice you make along the way in becoming the best you can be.
“I gave my best,” he concluded.
Anderson says he now plans to turn his attention from tennis strings to guitar strings at his home in Florida.
Image source: @WallStreetJournal
