After a 15-year long career, the undisputed South African tennis player, Kevin Anderson, hangs up his tennis racket at the age of 35.
Anderson announced his departure from tennis on May 3 through Twitter. The Grand Slam finalist shared with his fans on Twitter, “As a kid, my dad used to tell me that success isn’t defined by the results, but by the effort and sacrifice you make along the way in becoming the best that you can be. I gave it my best.”
Tennis South Africa [TSA] organised a small Q-and-A session with various media houses and Anderson on May 6. The athlete took a stroll down memory lane on his professional career and his personal life.
“When I was in Miami for the first time, I briefly entertained the thought of why do I want to continue playing. After then, I stopped thinking about it because I associated it with failure at the time. The feeling of retiring came in small phases in my life. injuries and missing out on family moments,” said Anderson when asked about his retirement.
“There were times where I would be faced with two opponents on the court: the player which I prepared myself for and my mind. Managing my own expectations was my biggest challenge. I obtained a lot of life lessons from the sport and I am grateful for that as a huge part of my identity revolves around it. Specifically, I would say believing in yourself, win or lose and working hard for the things you want to achieve has been my life lessons,” said Anderson when speaking about mental challenges and life lessons.
When asked about becoming a professional coach in the near future, Anderson said, “It’s not the direction in which I see myself due to the many demands such as travelling, but giving a few tips to players is something I would definitely consider.”
“I thank my family, fans, friends and partners for the love, strength and support throughout my entire tennis career, It’s time for a new chapter,” Anderson concluded.
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