Juan Martin del Potro, the charismatic Argentinean star, earned a shot at winning his second ASB Classic trophy on Friday after coming through a keenly contested 11th meeting against four-time former champion David Ferrer. Already assured of a return to the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings on Monday, the second seed played with great focus to beat seventh-seeded Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 over one hour and 46 minutes in the Auckland semi-finals. The 29-year-old will now play 2016 champion Roberto Bautista Agut, the fifth seed, in their fifth hard-court meeting. Del Potro, who leads their series 3-1, has won their past three FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings. “I’m happy to have reached the final again, playing good tennis against one of...
Juan Martin del Potro, who will return to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since August 2014 next week, swept through to the ASB Classic semi-finals on Thursday night. The popular Argentinean star, competing this week at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament for the first time since his 2009 title (d. Querrey), struck 11 aces and didn’t face a break point in a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Russian Karen Khachanov in one hour and 33 minutes. "I took all of my chances and I played solidly on my service games," said del Potro. "I ran a lot today, more than yesterday, which is good for my physical condition and I’m sure I will run...
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...
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).
