Tennis’ Top Four Soon To Be Top Five – Del Potro’s On The Up!
Much was said about the top four players in men’s tennis prior to Wimbledon 2011. Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Switzerland’s Roger Federer have dominated the men’s game for several years now and Britain’s Andy Murray always attracts much attention prior to each Grand Slam, despite not having been able to clinch a ‘major’ yet.
Therefore it was unsurprising that most, if not all, were looking no further than those four men for a Wimbledon Champion in 2011. In fact aside from the 2009 US Open, you have to go back as far as Marat Safin winning the Australian Open in January 2005 for the last Grand Slam Champion other that Nadal, Djokovic or Federer. Alas, it was to be Novak Djokovic’s turn to lift the famous Wimbledon trophy after a four sets victory over Nadal in the final.
However, lets pause and look at the one man who spoils the big three’s perfect record over the past six years. It was in that 2009 US Open when Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro won his first and only Grand Slam to date. On his way to winning that year he defeated both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and the tennis world it seemed to have a new star, a new threat, a new winner!
But the following season Del Potro suffered from a wrist injury, a potentially career ending one which resulted in him having to have surgery and a nine month break from the game. In his absence Federer and Nadal won again and again, clinching the four Grand Slams between them.
Due to the injury, the Argentine was unable to defend his US Open crown in 2010 and finally returned to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open in January 2011. He ended up losing to 23rd seed Marcos Baghdatis in the second round and as a result his world ranking dropped to No.485, having been a career high No.4 in January 2010.
He continued his comeback from injury throughout the 2011 season, playing in various non descript tournaments around the globe, even winning the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Florida. In addition, he reached the third round of the French Open, losing to eventual semi-finalist Djokovic in four sets.
Del Potro then entered the Wimbledon Championships seeded 24th and made an impressive start. He dropped only one set on route to the fourth round, beating Flavio Cipolla, Olivier Rochus and Gilles Simon along the way. Del Potro’s fourth round tie with World No.1 Rafael Nadal was to be one of the most talked about matches of the tournament so far. Nadal won a tight and injury interrupted first set 8-6 in the tie-break. Del Potro then hit back in the second set, winning 6-3, and inflicting Nadal’s first set defeat of the tournament so far. Nadal won another close tie-break in the third set and eventually won out 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to reach the quarter finals.
Del Potro was defeated once more before the quarter final stage of a Grand Slam and, whilst it may have seemed an under achievement for a former top four player, he should have taken great encouragement from his achievements. He appeared to be getting back to something like his best, with his trademark 6ft 6in frame adding to his imposing array of shots and at only 22 years of age, Del Potro is most definitely on his way back towards the top.
It may be a while before Del Porto wins another major title, in fact he may never win one again, although many will be tipping him to challenge once more at the US Open in August 2011, two years after his only Grand Slam success. One thing is for certain, the cosy group of four at the top of the men’s game will shortly become an even cosier Top 5!
Article submitted Sunday, July 03, 2011 & read 135 times.
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» left by Julian Price(197)
Great article Matt! Totally agree with you...Del Potro is on his way back!Respond to this comment
