2013/05/22

Nadal Returns to Hard Court Play at the BNP Paribas Open This Weekend

 

Nadal

Rafel Nadal photo from http://wsenetwork.com

 

(March 4, 2013) NEW YORK, NY – Rafael Nadal will play his first hard court event since his return to the tennis tour later this week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. Nadal was sidelined seven months due to a knee injury. He bgean his comeback on the “Golden Swing” going 12-1, winning clay court events in Sao Paulo and Acapulco.

 

Nadal said that he can’t predict the future with his knee.”I go day by day,” Nadal noted in a morning news confernce in cojunction with BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, where he will play Juan Martin Del Potro. Serena Williams will play Victoria Azarenka to open the event which part of World Tennis Day.

 

“After seven months with a lot of pain in my knee, I don’t have the chance to decide which one will be my schedule for the future. I try to enjoy every one.”

“I have to see how the knee will last at Indian Wells next week, Nadal said. “Having the chance to play at Indian Wells is great. I didn’t know one week ago if I would be able to play at Indian Wells.”

 

“Today I know I can play on clay. I will try next week on the hard, he added. “Playing tennis will be a process to adapt my knee to the competition. I hope I will keep having the chances to play the normal calendar as I did in past years.”

 

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama

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Berdych Stuns Federer and Will Play Djokovic in Dubai Final

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(March 1, 2013) DUBAI – Tomas Berdych upset defending champion Roger Federer to reach his first final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and will face former three-time winner Novak Djokovic in Saturday’s final.

 

Federer fell to Berdych  3-6, 7-6(10-8), 6-4  not taking advantage of  three match points. Those came when he led 6-4 and 8-7 in the second set tiebreak.

 

Once that set got away from him Berdych looked the more likely winner in the third, breaking to lead 3-2, holding but losing three break points for 5-2 and holding two match points on Federer’s serve at 5-3.

 

“Obviously I leave this match with a lot of regrets, I’m feeling, serving for the match, having chances in the beginning of the second when he wasn’t quite in the match yet to go set and a break up, a few points where things just didn’t happen for me. Pity to lose that one, but Tomas did well to hang in there,” Federer said.

 

Berdych, who also beat Federer in their last meeting at the US Open, is the first player from the Czech Republic to reach the final since Jiri Novak in 2003.

 

“I couldn’t be better feeling than this one,” said Berdych, “coming from court playing Roger I would say almost in front of his home crowd, I would say that, and to be the one who won that match. It really feels great. I’m very pleased the way I played today.”

 

And previous experience of fighting back from match point down against Federer served him well.

 

“I already have some experience with him with some match points down, and then being able to turn the match the other way. In every single point I was believing in myself, trying to be just focused on that single point and not wanting to see the score and just going one by one.”

 

Novak Djokovic won his 17th straight match and his 12th of the season as he defeated Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3, 7-6(7-4).

 

“I was very pleased with the performance overall and the way I handled myself in the tough moments,” said Djokovic. “Mentally I stayed tough and believed that I could, you know, that I could go all the way and win in straight sets. I didn’t really allow myself to be negative.”

 

Fourth-seeded Del Potro was bidding to become the first player from Argentina to reach the final, but although he saved a match point at 5-3 and prevented Djokovic serving out the match at 5-4 he was outplayed in the tiebreak.

 

Djokovic held the edge in the first set, giving up only five points on serve and breaking to lead 4-2 when Del Potro made a forehand error.

 

Del Potro earned an early advantage in the second set, breaking for 2-0, but he was then distracted by a time violation from the umpire for taking too long to serve. That came at break point down in the fifth game and Djokovic went on to break serve and then level at 3-3.

 

Djokovic also broke serve again to lead 4-3, and having failed to serve out the match just one mini-break to lead the tiebreak 5-3 was enough to put the world number one into the final.

 

“He deserved to win. He played so well in the tiebreak,” said Del Potro. “I was break up in the second set, and I made mistakes. I lost the calm when I start to discuss with the umpire, and he come back in the second (set) so quick.”

RESULTS – FRIDAY, 1 MARCH 2013

Singles – Semi-finals
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [4] J Del Potro (ARG) 63 76(4)
[3] T Berdych (CZE) d [2] R Federer (SUI) 36 76(8) 64 – Saved 3 M.P.

Doubles – Semi-finals
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d J Erlich (ISR) / M Youzhny (RUS) 76(2) 76(2)
M Bhupathi (IND) / M Llodra (FRA) d R Bopanna (IND) / R Ram (USA) 63 67(2) 10-5

SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, 2 MARCH 2013

CENTRE COURT start 5:00 pm
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs M Bhupathi (IND) / M Llodra (FRA)

Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [3] T Berdych (CZE)

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Djokovic Leads Top Four Seeds into Dubai Semis

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(February 28, 2013) Top seed Novak Djokovic dominated  Andreas Seppi to win 6-0, 6-3, Roger Federer took only 54 minutes to overwhelm Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2, Tomas Berdych defeated Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 6-2 and Juan Martin Del Potro beat qualifier Daniel Brands 6-4. 6-2 in Dubai tennis.

 

After a seven-minute opening game during which Djokovic saved a break point the world number one took charge against Seppi, who swon just three points on his own serve in the first set.

 

Seppi finally held for 1-1 in the second set after fending off two break points, but he was never able to offer anything more than token resistance against an opponent who felt he was hitting his stride at the right time.

 

“It was an even better performance than first two matches, so match after match I’m elevating the level, which is good,” said Djokovic. “I’m trying to do my best on the court.  Tomorrow obviously I have a big challenge, the biggest so far. Hopefully I can sustain the level from today.”

 

Federer was in dominating form against Davydenko, and he was stretched on serve only once. That came as he served for the first set and let a 40-0 lead slip away before he finally sealed the set on his fifth game point. In the second set, Federer surrendered just one point on his serve.

 

Photo by Tennis Panorama

Photo by Tennis Panorama

“I was very happy. Good match for me,” said Federer. “I served well from the start. Then also I thought I had good timing on the return in particular after missing a lot of returns in the first match.

 

“Today I thought I was really striking it well, and then by virtue of that I was getting the first strike in and then I was able to control the baseline more. So it was a good match for me.”

 

Berdych hit nine aces and won almost two thirds of the points against an opponent who was troubled by a hamstring injury. The number three seed had to be patient before getting on top of his opponent, but once he broke to lead 4-2 he took almost total control.

 

“If you are in the position to playing one of the top guys and you just have a small issue in your body, it’s just a terrible match,” said Berdych. “At least you want to try. You never know what’s going to happen, but once you are not really 100% ready then it’s tough.”

 

Del Potro and Brands had met just once before, in Vienna last October when Del Potro fired 30 aces and Brands 32 in a match that Del Potro won at the end of three tiebreak sets. This time the path to victory was much smoother for the number four seed.

 

The first set went with serve with neither player earning a break point until, with Del Potro leading 5-4, Brands played a miserable game and dropped his serve at love to concede the set.

 

Brands then made a backhand error on break point to give Del Potro a 2-0 lead in the second set, and he surrendered his serve to love for a second time when down 5-2 to give Del Potro a comfortable 62-minute win.

 

“Looks easy but into the court wasn’t easy,” said Del Potro. “I played really well in the second set, and I take my chance to break his serve in the end of the first set. Today he made a few double faults in the important moments, and I took that to break his serves. I think that was the key.”

RESULTS – THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2013

Singles – Quarter-finals
[[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [7] A Seppi (ITA) 60 63
[2] R Federer (SUI) d N Davydenko (RUS) 62 62
[3] T Berdych (CZE) d [WC] D Tursunov (RUS) 63 62
[4] J Del Potro (ARG) d [Q] D Brands (GER) 64 62

Doubles – Quarter-finals
J Erlich (ISR) / M Youzhny (RUS) d [1] M Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) 63 64
M Bhupathi (IND) / M Llodra (FRA) d [4] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 46 64 10-8
R Bopanna (IND) / R Ram (USA) d V Hanescu (ROU) / L Rosol (CZE) 46 75 10-4

SCHEDULE – FRIDAY, 1 MARCH 2013

CENTRE COURT start 2:30 pm
M Bhupathi (IND) / M Llodra (FRA) vs R Bopanna (IND) / R Ram (USA)

Not Before 5:00 PM
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [4] J Del Potro (ARG)

Not Before 7:00 PM
[3] T Berdych (CZE) vs [2] R Federer (SUI)

COURT 1 start 2:30 pm
J Erlich / M Youzhny vs [3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB)

All photos by  Nida Alibhai. Follow Nida Alibhai’s coverage of  Dubai on Twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

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Del Potro Reaches Semis in Dubai

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( February 28, 2013) DUBAI – Juan Martin Del Potro reached the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for a second straight year on Thursday when he defeated qualifier Daniel Brands 6-4, 6-2.

 

The pair had met just once before, in Vienna last October when Del Potro fired 30 aces and Brands 32 in a match that Del Potro won at the end of three tiebreak sets.

 

The first set went with serve with neither player earning a break point until, with Del Potro leading 5-4, Brands played a miserable game and dropped his serve at love to concede the set.

 

Brands then made a backhand error on break point to give Del Potro a 2-0 lead in the second set, and he surrendered his serve to love for a second time when down 5-2 to give Del Potro a comfortable 62-minute win.

 

Del Potro commented that he served better and did not face a break point but needs to play at 100% to win.

 

“Looks easy but wasn’t easy,” said Del Potro. “I played really well in the second set, and I take my chance to break his serve in the end of the first set. Today he made a few double faults in the important moments, and I took that to break his serves. I think that was the key.”

 

“Juan Martin Del Potro survived a difficult first round when he faced three match points  against Marcos Baghdatis, but he has since shown the form that won him the US Open title in 2009,” said tournament director Salah Tahlak. “It will be interesting to see if he can maintain his run and advance to his first final here at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.”

Del Potro will face Novak Djokovic in his semifinal.

 

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All photos by  Nida Alibhai. Follow Nida Alibhai’s coverage of  Dubai on Twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

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Tennis’ BNP Paribas Showdown Live from MSG on March 4

 

(February 26, 2013) ESPN3 and ESPN2 will present live the BNP Paribas Showdown 2013 from Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday, March 4, with two matches: a US Open rematch between the world’s top two ranked players, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka followed by Rafael Nadal – who recently returned to action after being sidelined since Wimbledon last summer – facing former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro.

ESPN holds exclusive live rights to the matches, and ESPN3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET with ESPN2 joining at 9 p.m. Chris Fowler will call the matches with Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez and Patrick McEnroe. The Nadal-Del Potro match will also be available on broadband in the U.S. in Spanish on ESPN Deportes +.

“The BNP Paribas Showdown – with top stars in compelling matchups from a venue rich in tennis history – launches a great month of tennis from ESPN, crisscrossing the country from Indian Wells to Miami and in early April the Family Circle Cup from Charleston,” said Jason Bernstein, senior director, programming and acquisitions in ESPN’s programming department. “We enjoyed a successful start to the year with the Australian Open, and ESPN is there with a year-round narrative, showcasing the deepest tennis schedule on television, broadband and via WatchESPN for fans on the go.”

Williams, holder of 15 major titles, regained the world’s top ranking after last week’s WTA event in Qatar, despite losing to Azarenka in the final 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3. Azarenka, winner of the last two Australian Open championships, is now ranked No. 2. The two return to New York, where Williams defeated Azarenka in last September’s thrilling three-set US Open final.

Nadal, who counts seven French Open titles among his 11 major victories, recently returned to action after a seven-month hiatus because of injury. He recently reached the final of both singles and doubles in his first comeback event and is ranked No. 5 in the world. He has not competed in the U.S. since playing in Miami last March. Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champ, is currently ranked No. 7.

The BNP Paribas Showdown from MSG will air live internationally on ESPN’s networks in more than 130 countries and over 47 million households throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, UK, Middle East, Africa and the Pacific Rim, including on ESPN Latin America in Del Potro’s home country of Argentina. In addition, ESPN’s broadband players in Latin America & the Caribbean (ESPN Play) and Australia & New Zealand (ESPN3) will also stream live simulcast coverage of this event.

BNP Paribas Showdown
Tickets remain available for the BNP Paribas Showdown and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The event is produced by StarGames and MSG Sports, and it takes place on Tennis Night in America as part of World Tennis Day. Youth participation events will be held around the world on March 4 in conjunction with the ITF and national governing bodies, including an extensive roster of events in the United States in partnership with the USTA. To find a participating location in the US, visit www.youthtennis.com. More information on the global events, including the BNP Paribas Showdown, can be found at www.WorldTennisDay.com.

Upcoming Tennis from ESPN
In addition to the BNP Paribas Open from New York on March 4, in March ESPN will present action from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., March 15 – 17, the Sony Open Tennis in Miami from March 27 – 29, and the WTA Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. April 4-7.

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Del Potro Takes Rotterdam Crown Over Benneteau

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(February 17, 2013) Juan Martin Del Potro won his 14th ATP World Tour tennis event with a 7-6(2), 6-3 win over Julien Benneteau for the Rotterdam title.

“It’s amazing. I’m so happy to win this tournament,” Del Potro said. “I played really well from the first round to the final. I think I played the way I needed to, to win this kind of tournament.”

“I had been serving well all week, but at the beginning of the match I was nervous and he broke me. Then in the second set I felt confident on my first serve and didn’t give him a chance to break me. I closed the match with a fantastic service game. He deserved to be in the final. He played a really good match today. He was fighting all the time and I think I did a very good job today.”

“I fought hard to come back in the first set,” said Benneteau who upset Roger Federer in the Quarterfinals. “I was always under pressure; I had to save a lot of break points. It’s difficult to keep that level of intensity all the time. He did that better than me.

“It was a good match. I was not too tight, I played my game. He was just too strong today. It’s disappointing because it’s a final, but I did what I can.”

RESULTS – SUNDAY, 17 FEBRUARY, 2013

Singles – Final
[2] J Del Potro (ARG) d J Benneteau (FRA) 76(2) 63

Doubles – Final
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [WC] T de Bakker (NED) / J Huta Galung (NED) 57 63 10-8

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Del Potro and Benneteau to Meet in Rotterdam Final

Delpotro51112Madrid

(February 16, 2013) Juan Martin Del Potro and Julien Benneteau moved into the finals the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

Del Potro is into his second straight final in Rotterdam defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4. Del Potro lost in last year’s final to Roger Federer Benneteau topped fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6 (2). Benneteau upset Roger Federer on Friday

“It was not as good as yesterday, but who cares? I won,” Benneteau said of Saturday’s win.

RESULTS – SATURDAY, 16 FEBRUARY, 2013

Singles – Semi-finals
[2] J Del Potro (ARG) d G Dimitrov (BUL) 64 64
J Benneteau (FRA) d [5] G Simon (FRA) 64 76(2)

Doubles – Semi-finals
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [1] M Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) 62 76(10)
[WC] T de Bakker (NED) / J Huta Galung (NED) d [4] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 64 75

SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, 17 FEBRUARY, 2013

CENTRE COURT start 12:00 noon
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs [WC] T de Bakker (NED) / J Huta Galung (NED)

Not Before 2:30 PM
J Benneteau (FRA) vs [2] J Del Potro (ARG)

 

 

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Del Potro Defeats Monfils, Nieminen Serves Goffin Double Bagel

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(February 12, 2013) Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro stopped Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the second of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

Del Potro just needed a single break in each set to take the match. DelPotro was the runner-up in last year’s final, losing to Roger Federer.

In the last match of the day, Jarkko Nieminen destroyed David Goffin 6-0, 6-0 in an hour. It was just the second “double bagel” to be recorded in the tournament’s history and the first since 1987.

Roger Federer, the top seed and defending champion in the event will take to the court on Wednesday against Grega Zemlja.

 

RESULTS – TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2013

Singles – First Round
[2] J Del Potro (ARG) d [WC] G Monfils (FRA) 63 64
[WC] T de Bakker (NED) d M Youzhny (RUS) 36 76(2) 41 ret. (hip)
J Benneteau (FRA) d *[LL] T Kamke (GER) 63 62
J Nieminen (FIN) d D Goffin (BEL) 60 60
[Q] E Gulbis (LAT) d R Haase (NED) 62 61

**[LL] T Kamke (GER) replaced M Llodra (FRA) – illness

Doubles – First Round
[1] M Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) d R Bopanna (IND) / R Ram (USA) 76(2) 63
J Benneteau (FRA) / R Gasquet (FRA) d [2] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED) 75 62
[4] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d B Paire (FRA) / G Simon (FRA) 76(4) 36 10-5
J Knowle (AUT) / F Polasek (SVK) d M Baghdatis (CYP) / G Dimitrov (BUL) 76(4) 61

SCHEDULE – WEDNESDAY, 13 FEBRUARY, 2013

CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
[WC] T de Bakker (NED) / J Huta Galung (NED) vs [WC] R Haase (NED) / I Sijsling (NED)

Not Before 12:30 PM
V Troicki (SRB) vs [4] R Gasquet (FRA)

Not Before 1:30 PM
B Paire (FRA) vs M Baghdatis (CYP)
[Alt] S Fransen (NED) / W Koolhof (NED) vs C Fleming (GBR) / J Marray (GBR)

Not Before 7:30 PM
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs G Zemlja (SLO)
N Davydenko (RUS) vs G Dimitrov (BUL)

COURT 1 start 11:00 am
[6] A Seppi (ITA) vs [Q] M Bachinger (GER)
[Q] M Viola (ITA) vs [5] G Simon (FRA)
J Benneteau (FRA) vs V Hanescu (ROU)
T Huey (PHI) / D Inglot (GBR) vs [Alt] J Janowicz (POL) / J Nieminen (FIN)

 

 

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Chardy Smashes His Way To Fourth Round, Defeats Del Potro

By Jaclyn Stacey

 

(January 19, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Frenchman Jeremy Chardy smashed an impressive 78 winners past sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in an epic five sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-3 to create the biggest upset of the Australian Open so far.

 

Chardy played the match of his life in defeating the Argentine, smacking endless forehand winners and remaining aggressive to put his opponent on the back foot for the majority of the three hour and 45 minute match.

 

“It’s a big win for me. And maybe the best of my career.” Chardy said in his post match press conference. “Since the first point to the last point, I play exactly the same. I stay very calm, very focus. That’s why I win today.”

 

Chardy came out generating superb forehand winners at every opportunity and broke Del Potro in his first service game to race to a 3-0 lead in the first set. The number six seed was unable to get back on serve and Chardy closed out the set 6-3.

 

Chardy played simply and effectively by mixing up play consistently by going into the net often to shut down points quickly with the forehand.

 

In the second set Chardy continued to control the game through his forehand and Del Potro seemed to struggle to find a way around it. Chardy again managed to get ahead in the second set, breaking Del Potro in the fifth and ninth games to win the set 6-3 and take a two sets to love lead.

 

Chardy maintained his intensity in the third set despite going down a break in the first game on a double fault, the Frenchman regaining control in the next game after Del Potro double faulted on his own break point down to put the set level 1-1.

 

By this stage the listless Argentine began to regain some motivation for the match, pumping himself up and holding serve for the rest of the set and forcing a tie-break situation. In the tie-break Del Potro ripped some forehand winners of his own, including one on set point to keep himself alive in the match.

 

The 2009 US Open champion played with momentum in the fourth set and was able to break Chardy in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. The Frenchman’s body language began to drop as the match wore on and Del Potro was able to close out the set on his next service game 6-3 to send the encounter to a deciding set.

 

There was nothing between the two in the final set as Chardy picked up his game again and stayed with Del Potro throughout. The Argentine had a break point against him while serving at 3-4 30-40 but managed to save it with a backhand winner. Chardy had another chance to break a few points later and this time Del Potro sent a forehand well wide to give Chardy a 5-3 lead and serve for the match.

 

Chardy hit an ace on his first match point opportunity to defeat the sixth seed and win through to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in his career.

 

“My tactic was very simple: I play slice with my backhand and I try to play short slice because like this he has to come in the court.  After, with my forehand, I can go full power, so… It was nothing else (laughter).”

 

“I’m so happy. I just finished my match. But I just so happy, I enjoyed it.”

 

Del Potro was understandably disappointed following the loss but gave full credit to his opponent.

 

“Well, the match was really tough. Jeremy play so strong during four hours. He serves well. He made a lot of winners with the forehand, very good slices.”

 

“In the end when he had the chance to break me, he did. I think that was the key. In the end, he play better in the important moments, and he took the chance to win the match.”

 

Chardy will play Andreas Seppi in the fourth round after the Italian triumphed in five sets over Marin Cilic 6-7(2), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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Del Potro Cruises to Victory at Australian Open

Delpotro51112Madrid

By Jaclyn Stacey

(January 17, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Juan Martin Del Potro stormed into the Australian Open third round crushing German Benjamin Becker 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in the Margaret Court Arena night match on day four. He will play Jeremy Chardy on Saturday who today defeated Spaniard Marcel Granollers in four sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

 

“I’m happy to win close to my best level.” Del Potro said on court after the match. “I served well and made a lot of winners with my forehand.”

 

Del Potro cemented his status as one of the players most likely to challenge the top three guys in the draw and win the Australian Open. He already knows how to win a Grand Slam and play against the best in the world having defeated Roger Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open.

 

Del Potro was untroubled throughout the encounter, breaking Becker early in each set and never looking in danger of losing his own serve. He won a remarkable 87% of first serves in play and produced a total of 50 winners and only 18 unforced errors in the one hour and 44 minute thumping.

 

When asked about the heat Del Potro said “I played much better than in my first round but it’s the same condition for the other players. This is tennis. I drank a lot of water before the match to stay hydrated.”

 

Elsewhere in Thursday evening Australian Open action, Gael Monfils fumbled his way to victory in a five set thriller on Hisense arena, double faulting on several occasions on match point before recording the 7-6(5), 4-6, 0-6, 6-1, 8-6 victory over Yen-Hsun Lu. He goes on to play countryman Gilles Simon in the third round who was victor on Thursday in four sets against Canadian Jesse Levine.

 

Richard Gasquet had an easy win over Alejandro Falla 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in 1hour and 40 minutes and will play Ivan Dodig who defeated Jarkko Nieminen in five sets.

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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