TENNIS NEWS – JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO CONTINUES HIS U.S. OPEN TENNIS RUN, THIEM JOINS HIM IN FOURTH ROUND

Written by: Staff on 3rd September 2016

TENNIS NEWS - JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO CONTINUES HIS U.S. OPEN TENNIS RUN, THIEM JOINS HIM IN FOURTH ROUND

epa05522587 Dominic Thiem of Austria hits a return to Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

By Ricky Dimon

Just about anything standing in the way of Juan Martin Del Potro of late has been turned aside. The only exception is world No. 2 Andy Murray in the gold-medal match at the Rio Olympics. Diego Schwartzman? No match. Steve Johnson? See ya later. David Ferrer? Routine.

Del Potro maintained his winning ways by disposing of Ferrer 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-3 in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old Argentine broke serve five times and held throughout the second and the third to advance after two hours and 24 minutes.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina hits a return to David Ferrer of Spain on the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

A back-and-forth first set saw Del Potro seize an early break only to get broken, himself, twice in a row. But soon it was Ferrer’s turn to crack, as the 34-year-old double-faulted on break point at 5-3. After Del Potro dominated the ensuing tiebreaker, it was all but over for Ferrer.

“I got stronger mentally after the first set,” Del Potro reflected. “Against David, you never know when (the match) is going to finish. He never gives up. He’s a fighter. Also it’s a pleasure to play against him because he puts me all the time [under] pressure…. I think I did really well in the second and the third [sets].”

In an overpowering second set, the 2009 U.S. Open champion blasted 15 winners compared to only three unforced errors. He dropped only 13 total service points in the second and third sets combined.

“I’m so glad to be in the second week [of a] Grand Slam after three or four years,” Del Potro added. “That’s means a lot of good things to myself. Of course, I’m looking forward to keep winning. But my next opponent will be really difficult.”

That next opponent is one of the best players in the world this season–at least during the first half of the season. Although Dominic Thiem ran out of gas just a bit at Wimbledon and the majority of the hard-court summer, the 23-year-old Austrian may be getting back in gear. After outlasting John Millman in five sets, he crushed Ricardas Berankis and then overcame Pablo Carreno Busta 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday.

Thiem’s victory over Carreno Busta marked a birthday celebration. Two days after the festivities, though, things will only get tougher given Del Potro’s ruthless current form.

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

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2016 US Open, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis News, US Open tennis

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KenQuin says:

September 3, 2016 at 7:04 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: #Tennis News – Del Potro Continues His #USOpen #Tennis Run, Thiem Joins Him In Fourth Round
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