Less than a year removed from a successful career at Illinois, Kevin Anderson reached his first ATP singles final Sunday at the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas. Anderson, a qualifier, fell in a tight final to American Sam Querrey, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Anderson's surprise run to the Las Vegas final improves his ATP ranking to a career-high No. 121 this week. He topped Robby Ginepri in the semifinals and his run to the final included victories over No. 6 seed Michael Llodra and John Isner. Last season Anderson led Illinois to the NCAA team final and finished No. 4 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national singles rankings. He also received the ITA National Player to Watch Award in what would be his last season at the collegiate level. A three-time ITA All-America he won the NCAA doubles title in 2006 (with Ryan Rowe) and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2005.

Anderson and the three players who finished in front of him in last season's final ITA men's singles rankings are all enjoying continued success in 2008. Jesse Levine, who finished No. 3 and was named ITA National Rookie of the Year while Florida, is No. 163 this week. His ranking has risen nearly 400 spots over the last five months. Isner, last year's Farnsworth/ITA National Senior Player of the Year finished No. 2 in the ITA rankings while helping Georgia to the NCAA team title. "Big John" recently broke into the top 100 and is No. 92 this week. He has climbed more than 600 spots in the ATP Rankings since turning pro last June. He burst onto the scene last summer when he made his first ATP final appearance at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, D.C. and reached the third round at the U.S. Open before falling to Roger Federer in four sets.

The top-ranked player from 2007 and ITA National Player of the Year, Virginia's Somdev Devvarman, is the only one from the top four still in school. Devvarman is currently No. 1 in the ITA's singles and doubles rankings and has also led UVA to the top team ranking this season. During his run to the '07 NCAA singles title, he beat Illinois' Anderson in the semifinals and Isner in the final. This spring the senior will be trying to become the first player in 44 years to reach three straight NCAA singles finals and just the fourth in the last 50 years repeat as champion.

MORE ON KEVIN ANDERSON
* Played for the University of Illinois for three seasons - 2005-07. Opted to fore go his senior season to turn pro.

* Coached by Brad Dancer at UI the last two seasons, by Craig Tiley as a freshman.

* Named ITA National Player to Watch as a junior in 2007. This award goes to a player who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his collegiate career. Past winners include John Isner, Sam Warburg (Stanford), Bobby Reynolds (Vanderbilt), Paul Goldstein (Stanford), Patrick McEnroe (Stanford) and Richey Reneberg (SMU).

* Earned ITA All-America honors all three seasons at Illinois.

* Went 32-9 in singles during his junior season in '07. Reached NCAA singles semifinals and helped Illinois to the team final (lost to Georgia).
* Reached NCAA doubles final in '06 and '07 (with Ryan Rowe). Captured title in '06.

* Finished at a career-high No. 4 in ITA singles rankings in '07.
* Named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2007 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2005.

* Went 80-18 in singles during his three-year career. Won the first 13 matches of his career as a freshman in 2005.