Gilles Simon ends Juan Martin Del Potro’s voyage in the third round – US Open 2011
Another surprise result for the tennis fans, as former US Open champion, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, crashed out of the third round of the tournament, at the hands of the 12th seed, Gilles Simon of France on
Sunday afternoon.
The contest was staged at the Louis Armstrong Stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park, of Queens, New York City, United States, with the French contestant bagging victory in four sets,
4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3), to make it to the fourth round of the last Grand Slam tournament of the current year.
Simon took three hours and fifty seven minutes of sweating play to take down the former US Open champion, Del Potro, in the third round clash. The 12th seed French appeared sloppy at the start but gathered up pace in
the later parts of the game to edge past Del Potro after a stiff contest.
The Argentine was led down by the his huge number of error-ridden game in the match, as he coughed a total of 72 unforced errors, including six double faults, to let Simon fly away with victory. Del Potro had 14 break opportunities
in the matchup but he converted just two of them to remain on the back foot in the entire contest, while the French opponent nailed three of his 12 break points to dispose of the 18th seed Argentine from the last Grand Slam tournament of the current
year.
The Argentine made a courageous comeback from a career-threatening wrist injury this year and bagged singles titles at Delray Beach and Estoril but his performances have lacked a lot to be desired. Signs of fatigue were evident
from Del Potro’s body language in the contest and after bagging the opener, he dropped the second set tie breaker to let Simon back in business.
“He’s a fighter, no?” Del Potro said in admiration of the 12th seed Simon. “It’s very hard to make a winner playing against Simon. But I tried until the end. I play at lower level in the tie-breaks. He took the chance
and he closed the match in the fourth set. Anyways, I’m glad to be here, playing this tournament. I feel a little sad now because I just lost. But I think my comeback is in good shape. I’ll keep trying to improve my game.”
Up next for Simon in the fourth round is the 28th seed American, John Isner, who outplayed his fellow compatriot, Alex Bogomolov in the third round to book a date with the French to fight for a place in the quarter-finals
of the US Open.
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