It’s the perfect start to the season for Kevin Anderson as he took home the title in Pune at the Tata Open on Saturday. It was one better than Anderson achieved last year in which he finished runner up.

It was a record breaking final as well as Anderson, who stands at 6’8, took on Ivo Karlovic who stands at 6’11. The two giants battled it out in the tallest final of the open era.

I really wanted to go one step further than last year,” said Anderson at the trophy ceremony. “You don’t get to win tournaments every week, so when you do it is very special and it is something that definitely means a lot to me.

It is the South African’s sixth tour title but was anything but easy for Anderson. He won the match 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in two hours and 44 minutes recovering from 5-2 down in the third and final set tie-breaker. Anderson earns 250 ATP Ranking points and continues his good form from last year which will see him in high spirits as he gears up for the Australian Open.