Del Potro Stuns Wawrinka At Wimbledon

July 1, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Juan Martin del Potro hadn’t played at Wimbledon in two years until his first round victory earlier this week, but the Argentine pulled off an incredible upset on Friday, knocking off two-time Grand Slam champion and fourth-seed Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon third round.

“The crowd was unbelievable with me. The atmosphere on Centre Court was amazing,” said del Potro. “They have respect for me. It’s very nice just be on the Centre Court of this magnificent tournament.”

Del Potro played safe tennis, committing just 24 unforced errors over the four sets, and after he snagged the third set in a tiebreaker, he broke for a 5-3 lead in the fourth set, serving out the match on his first match point.

Despite the loss, Wawrinka had only kind words to say about his opponent.

“As well say, it’s great for tennis to see him back. He’s a great guy, a really good player, a big champion,” said Wawrinka. “He’s beaten some good guys. Today he was playing really well. I think he was serving really well. His forehand is there. His backhand, he’s still struggling a little bit because he cannot play freely, so he’s slicing a lot. But on the slow grass, it’s tough to do something against it.”

Up next for del Potro is Frenchman Lucas Pouille who took out American Donald Young 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Czech Tomas Berdych wasted no time in advancing to the third round, blowing past Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday. Berdych will take on the winner of Alex Zverev and Mikhail Youzhny.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and John Isner both advanced in straight sets in their respective matches. Tsonga routed Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, while Isner posted one of his usual scorelines, winning three tiebreakers to move past Matthew Barton 7-6(8), 7-6(3), 7-6(8).

In the best early match on the men’s side, 15th seed Nick Kyrgios outlasted Germany’s Dustin Brown 6-7(3), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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