By Erik Gudris | Friday, July 1, 2016
“I felt so sad the last two years. I can play tennis again. I feel so much alive.”
That’s what Juan Martin Del Potro said just after completing another big step in his comeback by defeating No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon.
In their first meeting in over four years, the second round encounter between the two former major champions definitely deserved its Centre Court billing. Yet Wawrinka entered as the favorite despite recent shaky form and with grass not being his favored surface.
Wawrinka proved the better player at the start. Wawrinka dropped only one point on serve in the early games of the opening set. After breaking Del Potro for a 3-1 lead, Wawrinka never let go of it even after he had to fend off two late break point chances for his opponent.
A potent Wawrinka serve soon gave him the set 6-3.
But Del Potro, playing in his first major since the 2014 Australian Open after coming back from wrist surgery, starting revving up his trademark forehand. That seemed to put Wawrinka in a bad mood as his own level dropped. Wawrinka, facing another break point, tossed in a double fault to give Del Potro a 3-1 lead.
Though by now Wawrinka had nine forehand winners to none yet for Del Potro, the Argentine held his own in their extended rallies. Del Potro eventually served out the set to level things at a set all.
An odd third set started with both men trading multiple service breaks.
Then after 2-all, each player cleaned up their service games and never faced a break point. Soon, a tiebreak was needed and it was there that the momentum swung in Del Potro’s favor. Wawrinka played a sloppy tiebreak that included him committing several errors on his favorite backhand side.
Del Potro, thanks to a wayward forehand from Wawrinka on set point, clinched the tiebreak 7-6(2) and with it a two sets to one lead.
The fourth set found Wawrinka again struggling to figure out how to counter Del Potro. While Wawrinka tried to be more patient in their rallies, his attempts to go for winners often resulted in more errors. Del Potro bided his time until his next opportunity came his way. He got it in the seventh game.
Wawrinka, serving at 4-3, dumped a forehand into the net. That set up a break point for Del Potro who converted by using his slice backhand to keep Wawrinka at bay before the Swiss hit long. Del Potro, now serving for the match at 5-3, didn’t waste time closing things out.
At match point, Wawrinka hit a backhand well out allowing Del Potro to celebrate the upset 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 win.
“I said before, this could be my second or third career after my surgeries. It was really tough to come back on the sport after my third one. But now I'm enjoying tennis again,” a reflective Del Potro said later. “I don't know if I can be in the top positions again. But if not, I will be happy just to be playing tennis again. If I'm still doing the good things, maybe I have chance to be better in the future because I can play in the same level as the top guys in all surface. That's means something good to me.”
This is Del Potro’s first top five win in three years. He’ll next face Lucas Pouille of France.