By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Claude Paris/AP
(February, 26th, 2012)--In two impressive weeks on the indoor courts in Europe, Juan Martin Del Potro matched his win total against top ten opposition from the previous year. Now, a flurry of debate on Del Potro’s Grand Slam prospects for 2012 is sure to follow, and rightfully so.
Is this most recent step in Del Potro's slow and steady post-surgery progression the one that will land him in the ATP’s top five again? We’ll likely learn a lot more about Del Potro’s place in tennis’s pecking order by early April, when Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami are in the books.
For now, Del Potro can celebrate a job well done. His first career indoor title came against stiff competition in Marseille, and his ability to deliver in the clutch was front and center throughout the week, as he calmly stared down tense moment after tense moment, managing to save 16 of the 18 break points he faced in four matches, and conjuring ways to win in spite of his opponent’s brilliant play all the while.
“It was an amazing week,” said a happy Del Potro, after his 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Frenchman Michael Llodra in the final. “I’ve been playing better and better every match.”
Del Potro was tested in Marseille from the onset, when he dropped the first set against a suddenly resurgent Nikolay Davydenko in the second round. But even then, Del Potro’s calm was on display. Del Potro rallied to take the second set before Davydenko was forced to withdraw with a foot injury, and the rest of the week featured many more cool crisis aversions.
“I already talk with my coach and we think this is one of the best tournaments that I won because of the level of the tournament,” said Del Potro of his path to the title. “I beat Gasquet, Tsonga, Davydenko, Llodra on the surface where they play much better.”
On Sunday, after quashing hopes that Marseille would have an all-French final by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis, Del Potro was at his most convincing, winning 36 of 40 first serve points and never facing a break point against Michael Llodra.
Probably more impressive was the fact that the 6'6" Argentine was able to break Llodra, the master of serving and volleying on the fast Marseille hard courts, once in each set.
“Llodra has amazing talent to serve and volley,” said Del Potro afterwards. “He’s lefty and he can play different shots.”
After breaking Llodra in the 9th game Del Potro served out the first set with ease, but after breaking his opponent in the fifth game of the second set, the big man had some trouble serving for the title.
Del Potro found himself down 0-30 in that game, but he once again calmed his nerves and saw himself through.
“I was really nervous in the last game,” he said. “I hadn’t made a double-fault since the Davydenko match and today I made the first one, 5-4 serving for the championships, but finally I close with a good point, good forehands.”
Llodra, Who was searching for his 2nd Marseille title in his 3rd final appearance, enjoyed the ride in spite of his Sunday setback.
“Earlier this week, I would have obviously signed for this trip with a win over a Top 10 (Janko Tipsarevic in the semifinals) and a Top 20 (Alexandr Dolgopolov in the 2nd round), but it's always frustrating to lose in final,” he said.
For Llodra, who wowed the French faithful with his improvisational attack, stylistic volleys and wicked lefty serve, the effort went above and beyond once again; for Del Potro, the line of thinking is that Marseille—and the confidence he’ll no doubt gain from it—is a stepping stone that will land the big man on a rock near the ones assigned to Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray.
What he does from there is the million dollar question.
“Now I’m playing better than a year before and getting closer to the top guys, and that’s what I want to do,” said a satisfied Del Potro.