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Johannesburg - South African tennis player Raven Klaasen’s latest title win has raised hopes that he can bag more accolades.
The doubles specialist and his partner, Michael Venus of New Zealand, won the ATP's Open 13 in Marseille, France, last Sunday. The win saw him collect his 14th career ATP doubles title.
Last year, he won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells along with then partner Rajeev Ram of the US.
His inspiring performances at the Davis Cup helped South Africa dispose of Estonia and Slovenia in matches played at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria recently.
Prior to that, he was instrumental in helping South Africa snatch victory over Denmark in September.
The doubles world No 26’s partnership with Ruan Roelofse saw them finish the year without losing a match in the Davis Cup.
Despite the South African team eventually losing their Davis Cup tie to Israel last month, his formidable combination with Roelofse is yet to lose a game at the premier international team event.
South Africa’s tennis prospects were further boosted by Kevin Anderson’s qualification for the Mexico Open final.
Anderson beat US player Jared Donaldson 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in a semi-final clash to reach his third final of the season.
On Sunday he faced world No 9 Juan Martin del Potro in the final which he lost 6-4, 6-4.
Anderson, the world No 8, took a break after winning the New York Open two weeks ago.
This week, he returned to the court to dismantle South Korea’s Chung Hyeon in the quarter-finals.
A win on Sunday would have taken him past David Goffin’s ranking at No 7 but he will remain chuffed at staying at No 8.
In October, Klaasen and Anderson were nominated for ATP World Tour awards.
Klassen’s nomination was in the doubles category, while Anderson featured in the singles section.
