South Africa's Kevin Anderson one step closer to US Open

The 2017 US Open finalist made a winning return to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday with a 6-3 7-5 win over Ukraine's Krutykh in the first round of the 2023 US Open Qualifying Tournament.

The South African is playing his first Grand Slam tournament in exactly a year's time: Now 37, the former world No. 5 retired from tennis last year, but announced his return to the sport last month.

He quickly made an impact in his return, reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open Series event in Newport, R.I. last month, and served up an 81-minute win.

The big-serving Anderson's delivery looked vintage against Krutykh, as he popped in 12 aces and saved all three break points he faced. Neither man faced a break point in the first ten games of the second set, and Anderson won the match's final three games.

Next up for the Johannesburg native is 19th seed Tomas Machac on Thursday. Anderson is aiming for his first major main-draw appearance since the 2022 Australian Open.

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