Del Potro advances to the third round of Roland Garros
The Argentine Juan Martín Del Potro, 29th seed, advanced to the third round of Roland Garros on Thursday after the withdrawal of Spanish player Nicolás Almagro due to a left knee injury after an hour and a half of play.
At the time of the Spanish player's withdrawal, the score was tied, with Del Potro leading 6-3 in the first set, 3-6, and 1-1. After getting injured, Almagro remained on the ground crying while Del Potro approached him to console him. Afterwards, the Spanish player sat on the bench with the Argentine player embracing him, creating one of the most memorable moments of the tournament.
'La Torre de Tandil' knows the struggle of injuries like few others. He is playing in Roland Garros for the first time in five years due to physical problems. Del Potro will now play in the third round against the winner of the match between world number 1 Andy Murray and Slovakian player Martin Klizan.
Preview:
Del Potro vs. Nicolás Almagro: this Thursday (5:30 am Peruvian time and 7:30 am Argentine time) for the second round of Roland Garros 2017. The Argentine team wants to advance to the next stage, where they could face British player Andy Murray.
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Juan Martín Del Potro crushes Guido Pella in the start of Roland Garros
Back at the French Open for the first time since 2012, Juan Martín Del Potro had some trouble finding his way around Roland Garros. "I never find the place I have to go," joked the Argentine tennis player. Del Potro had no difficulties finding his best form once he reached court six. The Argentine giant wielded his intimidating forehand and powerful serves to defeat his compatriot Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 and advance to the second round of the clay Grand Slam. The only sign of the wrist injuries and surgeries that have plagued Del Potro in recent years was his weak backhand, the Achilles' heel of the 28-year-old player nicknamed the "Tower of Tandil". "He played better than me," summarized Pella. Del Potro, the champion of the 2009 US Open, is the 29th seed at Roland Garros, where he is playing for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals five years ago. Against Pella, he hit 13 aces and almost double the winners, 33-17. Only one of those winners was with the backhand, the shot that has caused him the most problems since undergoing several surgeries on his left wrist. Del Potro is right-handed, but he uses both hands for the backhand, which has recently been reduced to a harmless slice. "He has a weakness, and I tried to exploit it," added Pella. Del Potro missed the Grand Slams for two and a half years due to three surgeries on his left wrist, until he finally returned to the majors at Wimbledon in 2016. The Argentine also won a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he eliminated Novak Djokovic in the first round and lost to Andy Murray in the final. "Today I was able to show that my weak point, which used to be my backhand, has improved. I think Pella's strategy was to try to make me use my backhand, and he realized that it is no longer my weak point and that I was able to use it quite well," said Del Potro about the match against his compatriot and Davis Cup teammate. "But it is true that at times it bothers me a little, because I know that my backhand is not what it used to be." Clay has never been Del Potro's favorite surface, as his power is more effective on faster courts. Even so, in 2009 he reached the semifinals, where he lost to Roger Federer. "That year I thought it would be my year," he recalled. Del Potro will face Spaniard Nicolás Almagro in the second round and could meet Murray in the third. "I have a patient attitude, we'll see what happens," he said. "I try not to complicate things too much, I try not to set long-term goals. I go match by match."