WINTSON-SALEM, US: Second seed Kevin Anderson used his powerful serve to end the unlikely run of qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert with a 6-4, 7-5 victory in the final of the Winston-Salem Open last night.
One break in each set was enough for Anderson as the South African clinched the third ATP title of his career and ended a streak of losing seven straight finals.
The tall South African was broken only once in the entire tournament at Wake Forest University in a promising tune-up for the US Open which starts tomorrow.
Anderson, 29, has a mediocre record at Flushing Meadows, where he has never made it to the round of 16.
He was in danger of dropping serve against Herbert only once, in the fourth game of the second set, but saved four break points.
Herbert, ranked 140th in the world, was outclassed in the first set but played much better in the second set before dropping serve at 5-5.
That was the only opening world number 15 Anderson needed to close out the Frenchman.
Had Herbert won, he would have been the first player since 1996 to win an ATP event after playing nine matches.
The 24-year-old survived three rounds of qualifying just to make the main draw.
“I had an incredible week,” said Herbert, who will meet 23rd seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the first round at the US Open.
On Friday, Anderson booked his place in the final defeating unseeded Tunisian Malek Jaziri in straight sets.
The big-serving 29-year-old from Johannesburg, seeded second for the tournament after receiving a wild card, swept aside Jaziri 6-4, 6-3 to reach only the ninth final of his career.
Anderson, the world number 15, has not won a singles title on the ATP Tour since victory at Delray Beach in 2012.
Earlier Friday, French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert accounted for American 13th seed Steve Johnson to book his place in the final.
Fought
Herbert, ranked 140th in the world, fought back after dropping the first set to prevail 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
“In France we call it a ‘diesel start,’” said Herbert, who reached the first ATP final of his career.
“It’s not always easy to find the rhythm right away. Steve served incredibly in the first set. I could hardly put a ball in the court. Then in the second set I played one amazing return game and the momentum just changed. It gave me confidence.
“I broke with three return winners so it wasn’t his bad play. After that I told myself that I could win it.”