DEL POTRO IS BACK ON THE COURT AND BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 13th January 2015

DEL POTRO IS BACK ON THE COURT AND BACK IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE BY RICKY DIMON |

“Del Potro d Stakhovsky 6/3 7/6, to win his first match in 11 months! He is back” – Photo by @hdtennis via Instagram

If Juan Martin Del Potro had been in the business of moral victories on Tuesday, who could have blamed him? After all, he had not played in more than 10 months due to wrist surgery. Simply playing a tennis match was a monumental occasion for the affable Argentine.

But Del Potro added some icing on the cake by picking up a literal victory in round one of the Apia International. The former world No. 4, making his comeback at a tournament he won last year, beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 7-6(4) in one hour and 21 minutes.

Del Potro struck seven aces without double-faulting, won an incredible 37 of 41 first-serve points, and did not face a single break point the entire way.

“It was a great moment for me,” he reflected afterward. “I think I played well; I served well. My forehand is still working. So that’s a good signal for the future. I need to work very hard [on] my backhands and my movements, but I think now is time to think about my comeback and enjoy this moment a lot.

“Juan Martin #DelPotro is back! He just won his first match in 11 months against #Stakhovsky (6-3, 7-6) #Sydney #Australia #Comeback” – Photo by @atptennispics via Instagram

“I’ve been at home for a long time; (it’s been) really sad. To be honest, I didn’t expect this moment to be early in the season. I’m so happy; so glad.”

Del Potro took control by breaking for 3-1 in the first set. Stakhovsky managed to hold all the way through the second en route to a tiebreaker that went back-and-forth early. Del Potro trailed 2-0, won three points in a row, and gave back a mini-break before his opponent’s double-fault at 4-4 proved to be decisive. The defending Sydney champion promptly took care of the final two points on his own serve.

“It’s supposed to be worse after an intensive match like today, but I’m feeling well at the moment,” the 2009 U.S. Open champion explained. “I will see tonight and maybe tomorrow morning, but my doctor is behind me. He gives me big confidence every day, so I’m still positive and I still want to play tennis.”

That may not be what Fabio Fognini wants to hear. Del Potro will face the No. 1 seed on Wednesday with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Apia International, Atp, Fabio Fognini, Juan Martin Del Potro, Ricky Dimon, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 13, 2015 at 8:09 am

-@delpotrojuan IS BACK ON THE COURT AND BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/2uhzuy7yrB #SydneyTennis #APIAinternational
Dimonator says:

January 13, 2015 at 8:19 am

RT @10sBalls_com: -@delpotrojuan IS BACK ON THE COURT AND BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/2uhzuy7yrB #SydneyTennis #…