JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO COMEBACK TRAIN AT THE INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN CONTINUES TO ROLL, TOMAS BERDYCH AWAITS ON SATURDAY BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2016

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO COMEBACK TRAIN AT THE INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN CONTINUES TO ROLL, TOMAS BERDYCH AWAITS ON SATURDAY BY RICKY DIMON

epa05205605 Wild card Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in action against qualifier Tim Smyczek of the USA during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 10 March 2016. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Juan Martin Del Potro set up a blockbuster second-round showdown with Tomas Berdych at the BNP Paribas Open by cruising past Tim Smyczek 6-4, 6-0 on Thursday night. Featured in the night session on the first day of men’s main-draw action in Indian Wells, Del Potro did not disappoint the crowd–although they may have liked to see him for a bit longer. The Argentine needed only one hour and nine minutes to get the job done.

Smyczek at least managed to make things competitive in the first set, but the American qualifier could not convert his only break chance. He never had any opportunities in the second, during which he won a mere total of seven points.

“I think I played well,” Del Potro assessed. “I am so happy to be playing tennis again.I missed the sport a lot, suffering at home as I tried to fix my wrist. It’s great to be at this big tournament, playing on Centre Court and being around the top guys. It’s very positive just to be here. I think I surprised myself with my level. I didn’t expect to play that well tonight. I have worked hard to be competitive.”

The 2009 U.S. Open champion has been more than competitive so far in his latest comeback. His short but impressive record stands at 4-1 this season, with three straight-set wins in Delray Beach preceding a loss to Sam Querrey. That was Del Potro’s first tournament since Miami of last spring due to recurring wrist issues.

What appears to be a big opportunity awaits the 27-year-old on Saturday, because Berdych is a proverbial question mark going into Indian Wells. Mediocre form (the Czech is 12-5 this year) is the least of his issues at the moment. In the Davis Cup first round last week at Germany, Berdych retired from his second singles match with an adductor injury after dropping the first two sets against Philipp Kohlschreiber. He had previously fought past Alexander Zverev in five sets to lead the Czechs, who ended up taking the tie 3-2.

If Berdych is still less than 100 percent physically, Del Potro may be in line to advance–at which point his draw would open up and a news-making run in the desert could be in the cards.