SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Chris Oddo | Wednesday March 28, 2018

 
Juan Martin del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro edged Milos Raonic to stretch his winning streak to 15 on Wednesday at the Miami Open.

Photo Source: Michael Reaves/Getty

Juan Martin del Potro notched his 15th consecutive victory and matched his career-best Miami Open performance by edging Milos Raonic, 5-7, 7-6(1), 7-6(3), to reach the semifinals at Key Biscayne on Wednesday night.

More: Danielle Collins Shocks Venus Williams to Crack Miami Milestone

He will face American John Isner, who took out Hyeon Chung of South Korea on Wednesday, in the semifinals.

It was yet another resilient showing by the 29-year-old Argentine, who has made a habit of gritty resilience and eleventh-hour gusto as he has taken the tennis world by storm over the last month. Del Potro has come back from a set down to win three times during his streak while winning six deciders and two third-set tiebreaks, including in the final against Roger Federer at the BNP Paribas Open, where he claimed his first Masters 1000 title.

At times Del Potro appeared to wear the fatigue on Wednesday night, and he wobbled more than a few times, but the boisterous support of the packed house kept him afloat and helped him gut out his third victory in five career appearances against his Canadian rival.


Raonic, who fell in straight sets to Del Potro in the semifinals at Indian Wells, can no doubt take comfort in another strong showing at Miami. He has seen an uptick in his overall play under new coach Goran Ivanisevic that bodes well for his prospects this summer. The 27-year-old World former World No.3 (current World No.25) had chances to break for a lead in the second set and also led by a break twice early in the third set but could not keep his nose in front of Del Potro.



If there was anything disappointing about his performance it would be his inability to consolidate both his breaks in the decider or make any inroads in the tiebreakers, where he fell behind immediately and only won four points combined.

But full credit must go to Del Potro, who looked to be suffering with a neck or back injury after the first set, but kept forging ahead and steadily found his way back into the match by producing his most scintillating shotmaking and lucid tennis in the biggest moments.


The Argentine had to save a break point to level at 3-all in set two and then served twice to stay alive in the match before taking the set in a tiebreaker.

In the third set Del Potro twice rebounded from a break down and then never dropped serve again before dominating the third-set breaker.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Del Potro has proven time and time again over his winning streak that he can find an extra gear even as the pressure mounts. It is a knack that he has always possessed, but it is doubly effective when he is at full health and emotional vitality, like he is this week in Miami.

With only two matches to go before he takes a much-needed vacation at home in South America, expect Del Potro to keep finding that extra gear this weekend in Miami. It will be up to his opponents to match it and it will take something truly special to beat him.

 

Latest News