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Cape Town - There is a striking climate for comebacks in the international tennis firmament right now with the revival led by all-time greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - and top South African player, Kevin Anderson, is now joining the queue.
After 18 months of largely endless decline for a variety of reasons, which included an assortment of injuries, with his world ranking withering from an impressive10th during a brief period to a soul-destroying 70th at one point, the 6ft 8in, 31-year-old Anderson's standing will now improve a minimum of 19 places from 56th to 37th when the new ratings are announced in a week's time.
This substantial improvement follows in the wake of Saturday's gruelling five-set victory in the third round of the French Open at Roland Garros against Britain's 22 year-old Kyle Edmund, ironically like Anderson born in Johannesburg.
This upward surge will take place no matter what the outcome of Anderson's tough undertaking in the fourth-round clash with an in-form Marin Cilic in the French Open at Roland Garros on Monday.
Like other recent revivals on the international tennis stage, Anderson's improvement has not been entirely unexpected, but what has raised eyebrows is the sudden extent of the improvement which required a great deal of courage, determination and character, in addition to the skill factor and reclaimed confidence.
But in Cilic, it needs to be noted, Anderson will be confronted by a more highly noted opponent than either Edmund or the burgeoning, tempestuous Australian, Nick Kyrgios, whom he has overcome on his way to the fourth round at Roland Garros.
For the record, Cilic enjoyed a 5-1 career advantage in games against Anderson before Monday's game.
But the last time they met was as far back as the US Open in 2014, with Cilic winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 before eventually going on to claim his only Grand Slam title.
