Juan Martin del Potro has set a blockbuster second-round clash with top seed Novak Djokovic at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel on Tuesday night. The Argentine, playing just his second event of 2017, narrowly held off the free-swinging Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1) to claim his opening match in Acapulco. The 19-year-old #NextGenATP player Tiafoe grew up idolising del Potro and went close to toppling the former World No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings in the two-hour, 33-minute affair. It was del Potro, a semi-finalist last week at the Delray Beach Open, who started stronger when he broke for 5-4 in the opening set. The Argentine brought up three set points on a return error from the American qualifier’s racquet. Tiafoe...
Speaking to ATP World Tour Uncovered presented by Peugeot, Juan Martin del Potro admits he surprised himself with his comeback last year, but adds that this is just the beginning.
Juan Martin del Potro believes his game is far from his top level, which is a bad sign for his opponents given his run at this week’s Delray Beach Open. The 2011 champion held a set point to force his semi-final with top seed Milos Raonic to a deciding set before falling 6-3, 7-6(6) on Saturday. But del Potro said that despite the close scoreline, the essential shots in his game still aren’t at their best and will require more work on the practise court. “I think my game can keep improving a lot. I played with less 50 per cent of my backhand tonight and Milos kept attacking that," said del Potro. “If you’re not 100 per cent against...
Seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro wanted an opportunity to test himself against the world's best players at the Delray Beach Open. He'll get just that when he takes the court on Saturday for a mouth-watering semi-final battle with top seed Milos Raonic that showcases two of the biggest serves and forehands in tennis. Del Potro and Raonic are even in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry at 1-1, but haven't played in four years. The Argentine, competing in his first ATP World Tour event of the season, said he was eager to see how his game responds against an in-form Raonic. His last match against a Top 5 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings came this past October in Basel...
