Anderson knocked out of Stockholm Open

Cape Town - South Africa's Kevin Anderson has been knocked out of the Stockholm Open at the quarter-final stage.

The big-serving 31-year-old, who made the final of this year's US Open, was beaten 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/1) by Spain's Fernando Verdasco on Friday night. 

Anderson had gone into the tournament as the second seed as he looks to make a late charge for a place at the season-ending ATP Masters, but the No 8 seed Verdasco was more composed in the tie-breaks as Anderson struggled to get any momentum going. 

Verdasco will now take on Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-finals while No 1 seed Gregor Dimitrov will play against Italy's Fabio Fognini in the other semi. 

Anderson is sitting at No 12 on the current 'Race to London' standings, where the top eight players will contest what is largely considered tennis' fifth major. 

Results from the ATP Stockholm Open on Friday (x denotes seeding):

Quarter-finals

Fabio Fognini (ITA x6) bt Jack Sock (USA x3) 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-5

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x1) bt Mischa Zverev (GER x5) 6-3, 6-4

Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG x4) bt Yuichi Sugita (JPN x7) 6-2, 7-6 (8/6)

Fernando Verdasco (ESP x8) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x2) 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/1)