Injured Juan Martin Del-Potro not able to make US Open 2010 title defence
It wasn’t until the 21st of August 2010, that the contending Champion, Argentina’s, Juan Martin Del Potro confirmed his withdrawal from the 2010 U.S. Open.
In the year 2009, Del Potro emerged as the “Dark Horse” at the U.S. Open. Initially seeded sixth in the tournament, the fairly young sportsman made a good start by defeating fellow country-man Juan Monaco.
Del Potro took the first set six games to three and went on to take the second set six games to three once again. Verily, the professional bagged the third set with a six game to one win over Monaco.
Austria’s Jurgen Melzer was destroyed as the Argentine beat him straight sets. Melzer lost 7-6, 6-3 and 6-3 to Juan. Del Potro then faced yet another Austrian by the name of Daniel Kollerer in the third round of the championship.
Kollerer was sent home after losing 1-6, 3-6 and 3-6 despite taking the third set 6-3. Del Potro was proving invincible in the tournament so far.
The offensive baseliner annihilated Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3 and finally 6-3 in the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
Cruising through to the quarter-finals, the Argentinean came up against Croatia’s Marin Cilic. Dismally, the athlete lost the first set 4-6 to the Croatian. However, he managed to keep himself together and won the remaining three sets.
Cilic was eliminated upon losing the last three sets, 3-6, 2-6 and 1-6. Del Potro made a place for himself in the 2009 U.S. Open Men’s singles semi-finals, only to be ranked no. 5 in the world.
Presently ranked no. 1 in the World, Rafael Nadal was made to compete with the Argentine in the semi-finals of the tournament. This was the second time Juan had made it to the U.S. Open semi-finals and the third consecutive victory the player had gotten over Nadal.
Nadal was defeated six games to two in the first set of the match. Furthermore, the second and third set was also taken 6-3 and 6-3 by Del Potro.
The young stallion was the first ever Argentine to make it to a Grand Slam singles final since Mariano Puerta took the 2005 French Open Men’s singles title.
The professional worked his way up only to oppose the “Swiss Terror” Roger Federer. Known for his abilities, Federer is capable enough of posing a threat even to the best of the best.
The grueling 2009 U.S. Open Men’s singles final consisted of five sets. Roger started by exercising his authority on Del Potro by taking the first set 6-3. Juan however, took the second set 7-6 on a tie break.
Federer then came-back to take the third set 6-4 after which Del Potro reciprocated, with another 7-6 win in the fourth. The mentally and physically exhausted players were made to play a deciding fifth set.
Juan Martin bagged the fifth set 6-2, which marked his first ever Grand Slam Men’s singles win. In the words of Roger Federer, “He hung in there and gave himself chances and in the end, he was the better man”.
Tragically, the first ever player apart from Rafael Nadal to beat Federer in a grand slam final and also, the first ever player to have defeated both, in a grand slam tournament won’t be part of the 2010 U.S. Open.
Del Potro exclaims that he’s extremely sad as he won’t get a chance to defend his U.S. Open title. He also stated that he is sorry to have disappointed his fans, but is in no form to play a grand slam, as he just started practicing two weeks ago.
Apart from which, he said that his 2009 U.S. Open win remains his best memory so far. The professional wished his fellow players the best of luck and said that he’ll be looking forward to participating in the 2011 U.S. Open.
Amongst the likes of America’s Pete Sampras, Juan Martin’s wrist injury won’t allow him to attempt a title defense. The sportsman has been voted the ‘Most missed professional’ at the U.S. Open so far.
Tags: