JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO STUNS NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN FIRST ROUND OF OLYMPICS TENNIS AND RAFA NADAL CRUISES IN HIS COMEBACK

Written by: Staff on 7th August 2016

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO STUNS NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN FIRST ROUND OF OLYMPICS TENNIS AND RAFA NADAL CRUISES IN HIS COMEBACK

epa05462827 A general view on the Olympic Tennis Centre during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 05 August 2016. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY |

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal dominated his first match since the French Open, beating Federico Delbonis 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round of the Rio Olympics on Sunday afternoon. But what looked to be the biggest tennis story of the day was quickly put on the back burner. In the Day 2 nightcap, Juan Martin Del Potro shocked world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(2) after two hours and 27 minutes.

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men’s singles match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Tennis events at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 07 August 2016. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

A rematch of the 2012 London Olympics bronze-medal match, also won by Del Potro, this Rio de Janeiro showdown was enthralling from start to finish. The Argentine fired outrageous forehand winners left and right, but the top-seeded Serb delivered clutch service hold after clutch service hold to stay on level terms the entire way.

It all came down to a pair of tiebreakers. Del Potro got off to a hot start in the first one and finished it on serve at 6-4 with another crushing forehand. The 2009 U.S. Open champion jumped out to an even bigger lead in the second ‘breaker, 5-0 to be exact. Djokovic finally got on the scoreboard and took two of the next three points, but Del Potro capped off the upset with a fortuitous winner off the net cord.

The underdog finished with an overpowering 41 winners.

“It’s really difficult to talk now,” Del Potro explained in an on-court interview. “I cannot believe this moment for me. I’ve been trying to come back to tennis after the last three surgeries on my wrist. I’m playing at a good level; I beat the No. 1 of the world.It’s amazing for me. I love the sport; I love the crowd. It was amazing.”

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Federico Delbonis of Argentina during their men’s singles first round match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Tennis events at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 07 August 2016. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Nadal had plenty of support, too, in what was a much more routine affair. The 2008 Beijing gold medalist, who withdrew at Roland Garros after two matches due to a wrist injury that also kept him out of Wimbledon, won almost 60 percent of the points even when Delbonis was serving.

“I’m very happy,” Nadal commented in an interview with NBC. “It’s important for me to play well again and it was an unbelievable start. I played well mentally with strong concentration all match.”

Up next for the Spaniard is a second-round affair with Andreas Seppi, while Del Potro will face Joao Souasa on Monday.

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, Federico Delbonis, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic, Olympic tennis, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Rio 2016, Rio Olympics, Tennis News

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ParentingAces says:

August 8, 2016 at 3:35 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Del Potro Stuns Djokovic In First Round Of #Olympics #Tennis & Rafa Cruises In His Comeback
https://t.co/YEo7tmMZqL https…