Del Potro back into top 50 after first title win since 2014
Juan Martin del Potro has moved back into the world’s top 50 after his first ATP title win in almost three years.
The Argentinian beat American Jack Sock to win the Stockholm Open on Sunday and climbs to 42 in the world.
Del Potro, 28, missed much of 2014 and 2015 with wrist injuries and was 1,045 in the rankings in February.
“I’ve been trying to fix my problems for the past two years and I didn’t expect to win a title at this moment in my career,” he said.
The 2009 US Open champion added: “I am so happy to get the trophy here. It’s motivation for looking forward to the future.
“I don’t really mind the rankings or the numbers. I just want to play better. When I’m 100% I know I can be dangerous.”
Del Potro’s 7-5 6-1 win over Sock, the world number 22, ensured he won the tournament without dropping a set.
It is his first ATP Tour title since winning in Sydney in January 2014.
Del Potro played in his first Grand Slam tournament since the 2014 Australian Open at Wimbledon this year, having recovered from the latest of three wrist surgeries.
He then won silver at August’s Olympic Games in Rio, losing a four-hour final to Andy Murray but beat the Scot a month later in an epic five-set Davis Cup semi-final encounter.