DONALD YOUNG ADVANCES ALL THE WAY TO DELRAY BEACH SEMIFINALS, DEL POTRO ALSO WINS

Written by: Staff on 24th February 2017

DONALD YOUNG ADVANCES ALL THE WAY TO DELRAY BEACH SEMIFINALS, DEL POTRO ALSO WINS

epa05647490 Argentinan Juan Martin del Potro in action against Croatian Ivo Karlovic during their match of the Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina in Zagreb, Croatia, 25 November 2016. The Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina will take place from 25 until 27 November 2016. EPA/ANTONIO BAT |

By Ricky Dimon

Donald Young trailed by a set and was dealing with an apparent knee injury during second-round action at the Delray Beach Open on Thursday afternoon. By the end of the day, Young found himself all the way in the semifinals of the 250-point event. That’s how quickly things can turn around in tennis.

Young battled through the pain and ended up storming back to beat fellow American Taylor Fritz 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 57 minutes. The Atlanta native saved 13 of 15 break points, including 10 of 10 in the second set.

“It’s all a bit of a blur right now,” Young noted. “I was just trying to compete, to fight, and I was able to win. I don’t know how. It’s tough playing [other Americans]–it brings a different pressure. They want to beat you bad, you don’t want to lose to them. I’ve been there before, the older guys didn’t let me in, so I’m trying to hold them off for as long as possible.”

Young got a walkover from Steve Darcis in the quarterfinals immediately after beating Fritz, and he will face another American in either Jack Sock or Steve Johnson on Saturday.

Donald Young of the USA hits the ball to Ryan Harrison of the USA in their semi final match of the Memphis Open tennis championship at the Racquet Club in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 18 February 2017. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Sam Querrey joined his countrymen in the winner’s circle by beating 20-year-old American Jared Donaldson 6-2, 6-3. Querrey sent 13 aces whizzing past his doubles partner and he fought off both of the break points he faced to advance in exactly one hour.

When asked prior to the ensuing Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Damir Dzumhur match, with Querrey awaiting the winner in the quarters, the world No. 35 held back no secrets.

“In a way, I’d rather play Dzumhur,” Querrey commented. “But it’s great to see Del Potro back. He’s definitely at a different level now than he was a year ago. I’ll have to elevate my game if I play him again.”

Del Potro, who lost to Querrey in the Delray Beach semifinals last year, earned a shot at revenge by defeating Dzumhur 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 in the nightcap on Thursday. The 42nd-ranked Argentine squandered a 3-1 lead in the second set but recovered to cross the finish line after two hours and 23 minutes.

“It was a really tough match for me,” Del Potro assured. “He was really fast from the baseline and I couldn’t find the place to make winners with my forehand. I got my chances at the end of the match and I took it. I think I played my best game in the third set.

“He was trying to put the ball all the time to my backhand and coming to the net when I sliced. He was smart, but in the end I was more offensive from the baseline and came to the net in the important moments and that was the difference.”