Juan Martin del Potro drew on his experience to overcome #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday for a place in the ASB Classic quarter-finals. The World No. 12 struck just six winners, and committed 11 unforced errors, in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Shapovalov in 65 minutes. Shapovalov, who hit 20 winners and made 40 unforced errors, had previously beaten Del Potro in August 2017 en route to the Coupe Rogers semi-finals in Montreal. “I was surprised by the match today,” said Del Potro. “I didn’t expect to play at this level in the first match of the year. But I’ve been working hard to play this tennis and hopefully I can still improve in the next matches. “If he...
Is it David Ferrer's turn to roll back the years and enjoy a throwback season? The 35-year-old Spaniard looked as dominant as ever on Wednesday, needing only 66 minutes to prevail past 2017 finalist Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-2, 6-2 at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Ferrer, a four-time champion (2007, 2011, 2012, 2013), lost only eight service points (33/41, 80 per cent) and won almost 75 per cent of his second-serve return points against Portugal's No. 1. Ferrer enters the 2018 season just inside the Top 40, at No. 38. He won his 27th ATP World Tour title last year in Bastad, after finishing 2016 without a title. Ferrer captured five ATP World Tour crowns in 2015. [ALSO LIKE]...
Nine years ago, when Juan Martin del Potro marched to his first ASB Classic title, the Argentine was the #NextGenATP of his time. Del Potro was 20 years old, armed with a hammer-like forehand and quickly climbing the ATP Rankings. His 2009 title in New Zealand – then his fifth ATP World Tour title – propelled him to No. 6. In some ways, much has changed since Delpo hoisted the trophy in Auckland. He's 29 now, far removed from #NextGenATP, and four wrist surgeries have altered his expectations. “If I play healthy all year that would be great to me. I would like to play around 20 tournaments during the season and that will be my first challenge for this...
Listen and watch Juan Martin del Potro discuss his 2018 goals and a possible return to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings. Video and photo courtesy SKY Network Television (NZ).
South Korean Hyeon Chung set up a second-round meeting against fourth-seed American John Isner at the ASB Classic on Tuesday. The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion saved nine of 12 break points, winning five of the first six games in the deciding set of his 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over American lucky loser Tennys Sandgren. Sixth seed Pablo Cuevas started his 2018 season with a routine 6-3, 6-2 win against Japan's Taro Daniel in Auckland. Cuevas broke four times and won 81 per cent of his first-serve points to coast in 77 minutes. The 32-year-old will next meet Russian Karen Khachanov. View Wednesday Schedule: Sock, Del Potro, Querrey & Isner Open Campaigns American Steve Johnson, who reached the semi-finals...
