Anderson entered the US Open at a career-high 14th world ranking and his pending improvement is the result of reaching his first-ever grand slam quarter-final at Flushing Meadows after stunning third-seeded Andy Murray in the fourth round.
The glory ride of the 29-year-old Anderson was summarily halted in the 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 quarter-final defeat against Switzerland's fifth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka - thereby preventing the Johannesburg-born big-server from equalling the feat last achieved by a South African of reaching a grand slam semi-final when Wayne Ferreira made it to the last four in the Australian Open in 2002.
But in joining the select band of South Africans who have reached a grand slam quarter-final after seven near-misses while losing at the last 16 stage, Anderson will most certainly look on his achievement in the US Open as a notable milestone in his career.
Should Anderson ultimately break the elusive barrier into the world's top 10 he will join other South Africans Eric Sturgess and Cliff Drysdale, who both made it to fourth position in the world; Wimbledon finalist Kevin Curren, who reached a career-high fifth position; Wayne Ferreira, who made it to sixth place and Johan Kriek, the only South African to win a grand slam singles title when he was successful on two occasions at the Australian Open, whose best ranking was eighth.