WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)

Kevin Anderson can’t wait to get back to playing tennis. Thanks to a series of injuries, he’s only played in eight tournaments in the past year-and-a-half, including just three in 2020.

In February, after the Australian Open, the native of South Africa who resides in Gulf Stream, Florida, with his wife, Kelsey, and seven-month-old daughter, Keira, underwent surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear. In an insightful feature posted to the ATP Tour website this week, Anderson, 33, said he was all set to return for the European clay season this spring at Monte Carlo. Now, with those plans dashed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Anderson will remain home, with his family, while staying healthy and in shape for an uncertain return to tournament play.

“I feel like the toughest part of getting over the surgery and recovery has been done,” the 123rd-ranked Anderson told ATPTour.com.

“From a professional standpoint, of course it’s always a bit of an uphill battle coming back. Even if the {ATP} Tour resumes in a few months’ time, in the past year-and-a-half I’ve only played eight tournaments, not a lot of matches, and obviously my ranking will have gone down quite a lot, so I won’t be seeded.

“There are always challenges, but I know that if I stay healthy and keep trusting in my game, I’m going to give myself opportunities and I fully believe that I can get back there. But that’s the long term goal right now, obviously there are other things happening right now and I just have to take it a day at a time.”

 

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We are so grateful for all of the doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, firefighters, food delivery workers, open supermarkets… the list goes on. Thank you for keeping us safe during this time. Also thinking of everyone around the world dealing with this crisis. We will get through this 🙏🏻 #StayAtHome

A post shared by Kevin Anderson (@kandersonatp) on Mar 24, 2020 at 2:04pm PDT

Kristie Ahn is tearing it up on TikTok

Ninety-sixth-ranked Kristi Ahn of the United States may not be a highly recognizable name with a lot of star power on the women’s tour. However, with tennis on an extended hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ahn has quickly become a star on social media through her series of eight-second TikTok videos set to music. Who knew the 2014 Stanford University graduate (who has a degree in Science, Technology and Society) had a sense of humor!

A native of Flushing Meadows, New York, home of the US Open, the 27-year-old Asian American is catching everyone’s attention – including two-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 Naomi Osaka – with her funny and witty TikTok outbursts that have become must-see viewing, which she links on her nearly-7,000 followers strong Twitter page (@kristieahn). So far, she’s poked fun at herself, expressed her joy at receiving an Indian Wells wild card only to see the tournament cancelled, and also asked the philosophical question, “What’s up with tennis players and our obsession with towels anyway?”

What’s up with tennis players and our obsession with towels anyway? pic.twitter.com/aFNJHnhiYP

— Kristie Ahn (@kristieahn) March 23, 2020

Tiktok Queen 👑 https://t.co/kWJ4H0vPg3

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) March 22, 2020

What they’re writing

Simon Briggs, Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent, “The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has added to the pressure on the All England Club to call off Wimbledon, especially as the contractors used by both the club and Britain’s preceding grass-court tournaments are increasingly desperate for clarity.

“Wimbledon were hopeful of waiting another few weeks – at least until their regular management meeting in mid-April – before making the decision. But with government advice now prohibiting all but key businesses from operating, it is hard to see that timescale being realistic.