Del Potro amazed by love from chanting Americans
HE WAS facing an American but you wouwould never have guessed it from the support of the crowd as Juan MartinMar del Potro beat Steve Johnson 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium here last night. The 27-y year-old Argentine won the title in memorablem fashion on the same coucourt in 2009, beating Roger Federer ini the final, but this was his first appearanceappe in the sport’s biggest stadiums for three years and the crowd’scrow affection for one of the game’s gentle giants was evident. After three operations on his wrist, DelD Potro wondered whetherwhethe he would ever play at the highest level again but his run here hasha followed some remarkableremark results this summer. The formerfo world No4, who as the woworld No142 needed a wild card to play here, beat Stan WWawriWawrinkaW to reach the third round at Wimbledon and claimedclaime the scalps of Novak DjokovicDjoko and Rafael Nadal before losing to Andy Murray in the OlyOlympic final. Johnson,Johns the world No22, is enjoyingenjoyin the best year of his career but the 26-year-old was crushedcrush under the weight of Del Potro’sPotro huge forehands and thunderboltthund serves. Because of hishis wwrist problems the ArgentineArg still hits more onehandedhan slices on his backhand ratherrath than the crunching two-twhanded shots which helpedhe him win the title here butb makes up for that with the intelligence of his game. Del Potro said the support and singing by the fans had made it feel like a football match.
“It’s amazing for me to have this love from the crowd,” he said. “I think they’re pleased to see me playing tennis again after all my surgeries. They know what I’ve been through to come back.
“I’m so happy to be playing again. I think I did a really good job to come back. I’m trying to play like I did in 2009 but it’s not easy because I’m getting older. Anyway, I’m so glad to be here.”
When it was pointed out that this was his first victory in a night match here, Del Potro said: “I may have lost my three previous night matches here but I won the most important match in this stadium against Roger in 2009. That will be in my heart for the rest of my life.”
If both men keep on winning, Del Potro could meet Murray in the semi-finals, with another meeting on the horizon barely a week later when Britain face Argentina in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup.
“I am still waiting for our team to be decided but I would like to go to Glasgow,” Del Potro said.
The Argentine spends up to three hours every day working on strengthening his wrists and for the moment his main aim is simply to carry on playing. “I was really close to quitting but I think I’m doing well now,” he added.
In the next round Del Potro will face Spain’s David Ferrer, who beat Fabio Fognini 6-0, 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 after a marathon contest.