Argentine faces Stan Wawrinka in second round
Juan Martin del Potro had to wonder if he’d ever return to Wimbledon. Before Tuesday, the last time his whipping forehand had been seen at the All England Club was 2013, when the Argentine faced Novak Djokovic for a spot in the men’s final.
The two battled for four hours and 43 minutes – the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history – before Djokovic prevailed 6-3 in the fifth. “It was one of the best matches I’ve been a part of,” the Serb said after.
Djokovic has won two Wimbledon titles since then, but del Potro has spent much of the past three years recovering from wrist surgeries. On Tuesday, though, the likable Tower of Tandil was back at Wimbledon and looking like his old self, winning 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 against Frenchman Stephane Robert.
“Great [feelings] after three years,” del Potro said of his return.
The win was the latest encouraging sign of del Potro’s comeback. After the 2013 Wimbledon, the 6’6” right-hander rounded out the year with his third appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. But in 2014, he played only four tournaments before undergoing surgery on his left wrist in March. The former World No. 4 tried to return in 2015 but ended up playing in as many tournaments, two, as he’d have surgeries on his left wrist.
“I was close to quitting tennis at the end of last year,” del Potro said on Tuesday.
He didn’t, however, and the tennis world has been the beneficiary. Del Potro returned at Delray Beach in February and has strung together healthy weeks and quality wins. He beat then-World No. 14 Dominic Thiem in Madrid and reached the semi-finals earlier this month on the grass in Stuttgart.
“I’m enjoying tennis again. I’m starting to talk about tennis and no more about my wrist. That’s important,” he said.
In month four of his comeback, the 18-time titlist admits his game could be better. He could have more confidence in his backhand, but that’s OK for now. “This year my biggest challenge could be to finish healthy and be ready to make a good preparation for the next year,” he said.
Del Potro also has a new coach helping him. For the past few weeks, he’s been working with Daniel Vallverdu, who has worked with Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray in the past. “We have a great relationship. We know each other since juniors,” del Potro said.
On Thursday, the 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist will an opportunity for a big win at SW19. Del Potro faces fifth seed Stan Wawrinka for the sixth time. The Argentine leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 3-2.
“I am enjoying tennis a lot. Of course, when you win your first round, everything is much better,” del Potro said. “I’m looking forward to playing a great match against Wawrinka.”
© Ray Giubilo Novak Djokovic continues his Wimbledon title defence on Centre Court on Wednesday when he takes on the…
Photo © Ray Giubilo Out of Roger Federer and Marcus Willis, it seems unlikely to think that the player ranked outside…
| Wimbledon on the BBC |
|---|
| Venue: All-England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
| Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for more details |
Can British qualifier Marcus Willis achieved the unthinkable? He shared the front pages after his remarkable win on Monday and his reward is a second-round match against seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Britons Heather Watson and Johanna Konta are also in action on a packed third day at Wimbledon. Here is what you should not miss on Wednesday at SW19.
When asked for his top tip on how to succeed on your Wimbledon debut, Willis – who beat world number 54 Ricardas Berankis on the opening day – said that it helped to have a banana in the kit bag.
But the world number 772 will need a morph into Bananaman if he is to shock the world and defeat 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer.
They are separated by 769 places in the world rankings and by a few million in prize money. Before Wimbledon, Willis had earned £220 on the court this year, but he is now guaranteed at least £50,000 thanks to his feats in south west London.
Federer? The 34-year-old third seed is aware of the “cool” story which has captured imaginations.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said the Swiss. “Plus, he is serve and volleying, which I love to see. He came up with some great, great shots. To beat a guy of Berankis’ calibre in straight sets shows you how tough he is.”
Willis’ match with Federer is scheduled as the third match on Centre Court. They are expected to play at about 16:30 BST.
| Centre Court order of play |
|---|
| Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) [3] v Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr) |
| Novak Djokovic (Srb) [1] v Adrian Mannarino (Fra) |
| Roger Federer (Sui) [3] v Marcus Willis (GB) |
Djokovic is the defending champion, the world number one and favourite to progress to the third round at the expense of France’s Adrian Mannarino, the world number 55.
The Serb, who has never played the 27-year-old, is scheduled second on Centre, following Agnieszka Radwanska’s match with Kateryna Kozlova.
| Court One order of play |
|---|
| Johanna Konta (GBR) [16] v Monica Puig (Pur) |
| Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) v Gilles Simon (Fra) [16] |
| Andreas Seppi (Ita) v Milos Raonic (Can) [6] |
Watson and Konta were unable to complete their matches on Tuesday because of the rain so the British pair will try again on Wednesday.
British number one Konta was leading Monica Puig by a set before rain stopped play and will resume on court Court One at 13:00 BST.
Watson’s match with Annika Beck did not even start before the skies opened. The pair will play on court 12 at 11:30 BST.
Dan Evans is the fourth Brit in action, he will play 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov on court two following the completion of Fernando Verdasco’s match with Bernard Tomic.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
Watch as World Number 227, Britain’s Tara Moore, beats Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3 6-2 to progress to the second round at Wimbledon.
Read more here.
Former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka defeated American teenager Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon on Tuesday to set up a second-round meeting with Juan Martin del Potro.
Swiss fourth seed Wawrinka beat the 18-year-old 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 6-4.
Argentina’s Del Potro, winner of the 2009 US Open, saw off France’s Stephane Robert 6-1 7-5 6-0.
Del Potro is playing in his first Grand Slam since the 2014 Australian Open after a series of wrist surgeries.
Meanwhile, British number one Andy Murray, who beat Liam Broady 6-2 6-3 6-4, will next play Yen Hsun Lu after the Taiwanese player defeated Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia 6-4 6-1 6-4.
Australian Nick Kyrgios overcame veteran Radek Stepanek to reach the second round.
The 21-year-old Kyrgios, a quarter-finalist here in 2014, beat the 37-year-old Czech 6-4 6-3 6-7 (9-11) 6-1.
Stepanek was aiming to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles match in almost 25 years.
He initially struggled against a player 16 years his junior, and Kyrgios’ confidence came through when he played an outrageous between-the-legs winner early in the third set.
Kyrgios served for the match at 5-4 but Stepanek hit back, taking a marathon tie break 11-9.
It proved to be just a blip for Kyrgios, though, as he powered through the fourth set to win in two hours and 26 minutes.
“I do believe I can do good things in this tournament, potentially win it,” said Kyrgios.
The 15th seed will next face the unseeded Dustin Brown on Thursday after the German beat Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Brown made Wimbledon headlines last year when he beat Rafael Nadal in the second round.
The 31-year-old, who used to travel to tournaments in a camper van to save money, is ranked 85th in the world and found himself two sets to one down to Lajovic on Tuesday and facing the prospect of an immediate exit.
However, he staged an impressive fightback to progress.
Brown is now looking forward to facing his friend Kyrgios, saying: “We played IPTL (International Premier Tennis League) together, he’s a really nice guy.
“We are friends. We’ll go out and have fun and play good tennis.”
Serb Viktor Troicki, who beat Brown in the third round last year, is also through after beating Tristan Lamasine of France 6-4 6-2 6-2.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also progressed after the 12th seed beat Inigo Cervantes of Spain 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Frenchman Tsonga was making his return from a thigh injury that forced him to retire during his third-round match against Ernests Gulbis at last month’s French Open.
Cypriot in the spotlight
It’s hard to get Marcos Baghdatis to be serious. But in between the giggles, the popular Cypriot, who plays John Isner in the Wimbledon first round today, shares with ATPWorldTour.com ‘The Last Time’…
I cooked for myself?
I guess when I was home last time, maybe breakfast or something. Some eggs or something. I don’t really cook a lot. My wife does a bit and we live with my parents so they do a bit.
I paid to rent a court or buy tennis balls?
One or two months ago in Zagreb. I paid for the court to play for an hour.
I shared a hotel room with another player?
That was back when I was playing Challengers in Brazil and that player was Dudi Sela. It was in 2004, just before the Olympics. Was I a good roommate? I wasn’t, but he was! I’m just joking!
I cried at a movie?
I cry sometimes at X-Factor or Britain’s Got Talent, but not at movies! [Dissolves into hysterics]. There are some nice stories there! What’s so funny?! [Fans himself]. When Simon cries, it’s funny!
I went to a football match?
Hmmm, I don’t remember. It’s been a long time. I have two kids at home! Oh actually, I went last November with my daughter in Cyprus to watch my local team.
I changed a nappy?
I guess two and a half years ago, when my first daughter, Zahara, was born…
You didn’t change any for Baby No. 2?
No, never…
Were you that bad first time round?
Yes! My wife does everything so I don’t interfere in her business!