Cape Town - Kevin Anderson has become the first South African player in 23 years to reach the year-end ATP Finals.
Anderson’s victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the Vienna Open final on Sunday earned him enough points to book his spot for the elite eight-man event to be staged in London between November 11-18.
According to the ATP World Tour’s official website, Anderson - who has risen two spots to No 6 in the rankings - is the first South African since Wayne Ferreira in 1995 to reach the year-end tournament.
Ferreira, a former world No 6, went 2-1 in round-robin play at the 1995 season finale in Frankfurt, Germany, but could not qualify for the semi-finals.
Anderson, who has now won five ATP titles, said it had been his goal all year to qualify for the ATP Finals.
“I’ve said that right from the beginning, so to finally put my name there, it feels fantastic," he said.
Anderson joins Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in qualifying for the elite event, with the final two places to be decided at this week’s Paris Masters.
