del Potro Is In Vienna Hoping To Make ATP’s Final Eight

Written by: Staff on 16th October 2012

Davis Cup semi final Argentina vs Czech Republic

del Potro Is In Vienna Hoping To Make ATP’s Final Eight

epa03397777 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their opening match of the Davis Cup semi final between Argentina and the Czech Republic in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 14 September 2012. EPA/LEO LA VALLE |

Erste Bank Open top seed Juan Martin del Potro kept his own altitude to a minimum while riding the largest Ferris wheel in Vienna a day after Austria ‘s daredevil Felix Baumgartner set a world record with a leap from 40,000 metres above the earth, breaking the sound barrier in a freefall on the way down.

The Argentine, who is making his return to tennis after a month of left wrist injury recuperation, worked up his nerve to ride the famed Wiener Riesenrad which towers a formidable 65 meters above the ground at the entrance to the city’s Prater amusement park.

While del Potro has no particular fear of heights, the world number eight was still relatively pleased to get his feet back on the ground after the publicity outing.

But the big man has his own job to do this week at the Stadthalle as he tries to earn one of three remaining spots for the eight-man year-end event next month in London .

Last year’s Vienna finalist has a bye in the opening round and then faces a qualifier. Second seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia is also in the London chase, standing provisional ninth to Del Potro’s seventh.

Spain ‘s David Ferrer took the fifth qualifying spot, joining Roger Federer, Shanghai winner Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and the injured Rafael Nadal.