RICKY DIMON REPORTS: DEL POTRO GOES DOWN IN MIAMI, BUT THERE IS VICTORY IN DEFEAT

Written by: Staff on 27th March 2015

RICKY DIMON REPORTS: DEL POTRO GOES DOWN IN MIAMI, BUT THERE IS VICTORY IN DEFEAT

epa04680536 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in action against Vasek Pospisil of Canada during a first round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 26 March 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

By Ricky Dimon

Juan Martin Del Potro’s latest comeback–this one after a two-month absence–ended soon after it began on Thursday at the Miami Open. But it hardly came as it a surprise, nor was it a real disappointment. It was moral victory, in fact, in Del Potro’s eyes.

The former world No. 4, who missed almost all of 2014 due to left wrist surgery, was competitive from start to finish against Vasek Pospisil but ultimately went down 6-4, 7-6(7). Del Potro had plenty of chances in each set. He could not convert a 0-40 opportunity in the opener, failed to serve out the second at 5-4, and double-faulted on his own set point in the ensuing tiebreaker.

“I have to take the positive things on my comeback,” the Argentine commented. “I think I just played another official match after one year, and it’s a good signal for the future. It doesn’t matter, the score, for now.”

It mattered a lot to Pospisil, who has been getting a plethora of tough draws in 2015 but is playing the best tennis of his career, as he indicated after the match. The Canadian had to fire himself up–and he did–because the pro-Argentine crowd was obviously not backing him.

Vasek Pospisil of Canada in action against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during a first round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 26 March 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

“I was enjoying it,” Pospisil said of playing in the stadium in front of a packed house. “It was like a Davis Cup atmosphere, and I was playing away. For sure playing Davis Cup the last three or four years (helped). I took positive energy from the atmosphere…. Given the circumstances I thought I played a great match.”

As for Del Potro, he showed plenty of rust–as can obviously be expected. But he won’t be discouraged by the loss, because just being out there was a proverbial win.

“I don’t have any physical problem after the match, and I will be recovering soon for the future.”

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina walks off the court after losing to Vasek Pospisil of Canada during a first round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 26 March 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Still, Del Potro is not 100 percent. He hit plenty of two-handed backs during the loss, but none at full force. He admitted that he might never be back in peak condition, while simply hoping that his body allows him to enjoy a lengthy career.

“In the end, I want to play tennis,” he concluded. “If I have to learn a different backhand to keep playing, I will do it.”

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

Topics: Juan Martin Del Potro, Miami Open tennis, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Vasek Pospisil

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

March 27, 2015 at 11:09 am

@Dimonator REPORTS: @delpotrojuan GOES DOWN IN @MiamiOpenTennis, BUT THERE IS VICTORY IN DEFEAT- http://t.co/ypGSFGxMhB #MiamiOpen #Delpo
Dimonator says:

March 27, 2015 at 11:10 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @Dimonator REPORTS: @delpotrojuan GOES DOWN IN @MiamiOpenTennis, BUT THERE IS VICTORY IN DEFEAT- http://t.co/ypGSFGxMhB #…