Men’s tennis's so-called 'Big Four' have dominated Grand Slam play over the last two years, but they may be about to be rejoined by a man who could make it a fearsome Big Five, Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion.
On Sunday at the Australian Open, the towering Argentine took a clinical 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory over the talented German, Philipp Kohlschreiber. The calm Del Potro stuck with his plan of playing deep, consistent and sometimes lethal tennis, knocking off 31 winners and committing only 12 unforced errors. He served only six aces in the match, but has served 40 aces in the tournament, more than anyone else left in the draw.
“The match today was difficult basically in the beginning because was really hot, and Philipp play difficult tennis for me,” he said. “He make very good backhands down the line and playing the slices and serves and volleys. It's not easy for my game, but I was really focused trying to take all my break points, and then I close the first set with my serve; then take a little advantage in the second, and then my game start to feel more aggressive and confidence.”
It is difficult for a former Grand Slam tournament champion, who knocked the socks off of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in New York, to advance quietly through the draw, but not that many analysts are talking about “DelPo” who is on the verge of rediscovering his 2009 form, which by the way, is Grand Slam winning form on hard courts.
Del Potro appeared to be on the verge of making a strong run at the top spot after his sterling US Open run, but in 2010 he had to undergo right wrist surgery and he barely competed that season.
In 2011, the native of Tandil had a very respectable year by anyone’s standard considering that wrist injuries can be career killers. He won titles in Delray Beach and Estoril and reached the final in Vienna, but his Grand Slam and Masters Series results were so-so and he went 3-10 against top 10 opponents.
But at the end of the year in the Davis Cup final, he began to show consistent flashes of great play when he gave David Ferrer and Rafa Nadal all they could handle in marathon losses on clay. It’s clear by his performance this week when he’s only dropped one of 13 sets that he didn’t get down on himself
“ I was really close against Ferrer and Rafa,” he said. But they play much better than me on this surface. That's was a learn moment to my future, and I take a good things for my game for the season. I don't know if I can beat them in the future or on this tournament or the next one, but if I'm still working on this way, maybe I get it closer soon.”
What’s remarkable about Del Potro’s 2009 is that in Melbourne, Federer destroyed him 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, his worse loss in a major. Five months later he nearly upset the Swiss in the semifinals of Roland Garros in a classic five setter, and then he toppled him in New York three months beyond that. His rise and mental recovery after leaving Australia were swift.
The two will reprise their rivalry in the 212 Australian quarterfinals on Tuesday. Given that the Swiss has not lost a match since he fell to Novak Djokovic at the US Open, it will be a stiff test for Del Potro. Last summer in Cincinnati, the two met for the first time since the Argentine shocked him, and Federer scored a straight set win.
But if the 11th seed Del Potro can get his massive serve and forehand cranking, an upset could certainly occur.
:”It's going to be another good moment for play. Roger is the best tennis player of the history, and of course he's the favourite,” Del Potro said. “I remember three years ago I play on quarters against him and I only win three games. So if this time is something different and I win more games is going to be okay for me.”
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