Kevin Anderson faces Federer test

South Africa's top tennis player Kevin Anderson will tackle Swiss great Roger Federer for the first time in his career on Wednesday.

 

The duo will square off in the Paris Masters second round after world No 21 Anderson advanced when Russia's Mikhail Youzhny retired during their match on Tuesday.

 

Youzhny, the world No 15, served for the match 5-4 up in the second set but was broken to love and was forced to quit with an elbow injury early in the third set with the score 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 2-1 in Anderson's favour.

 

It will be Anderson's first meeting with the 17-times Grand Slam champion, for whom the match will carry significant importance.

 

Should Federer win he will qualify for the World Tour Finals in London next month.

 

Federer, currently ranked at No 6 in the world, has struggled in his quest to reach the year-end finale after an indifferent season which has seen him bag only won title on the grass-courts of Halle.