KP is most focused, professional person, says coach

Kevin Anderson's new coach Brad Stine of America has heaped praises on the South African tennis star's professionalism.

Stine's comments came after top-seeded Anderson survived a three-set thriller to move into the third round of the New York Open.

The US Open runner-up, who was playing his first match at the tournament after getting a first-round bye, bounced back from a set down to clinch a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win over American Ernesto Escobedo in the second round in New York.

Following a split with his previous coach Neville Godwin in November, Anderson had hired new coach Brad Stine from the 2018 season.

Stine, who had coached former world number one Jim Courier during the mid-90s before also mentoring Sebastien Grosjean and Byron Black, described Anderson as the most focused, intense and professional person.

"Kevin is probably the most focused, intense, professional person I've been around since Jim Courier. What he demands from himself and what he expects from his team when he's at the office, inside the fences training for his tennis, is very high. I've really enjoyed that, actually. That intensity level and that demand, it's great," Sport24 quoted Stine, as saying.

Anderson, who is currently ranked No 11 in the official ATP World Tour rankings, will now lock horns with another American, Frances Tiafoe, in the third round of the New York Open.

Earlier, Anderson grabbed the tennis fraternity eyeballs when he made it to the finals of the US Open, only to see himself losing to top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

The South African star has clinched three ATP titles in his career so far, with the last coming in 2005 at the Winston-Salem Open.