Juan Martin Del Potro breezes past Denis Istomin into the second round – AEGON Championships 2011
12th seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina knocked out world number 61 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round of AEGON Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Tuesday. The
Argentine needed an hour and 22 minutes to beat his opponent in a one-sided contest.
Del Potro did not allow the Uzbek to settle down, breaking him in the opening game of the first set and holding serve in the next game to take a 2-0 lead. Istomin was quick to respond as he broke back in the fourth game to equalise
the score at 2-2. However, the 24-year-old failed to consolidate on it, getting broken again in the very next game to trail 2-3. This time, the Argentine did not allow the Uzbek to break back, serving out the set at 5-4.
The 22-year-old delivered three aces and 75 percent of the first serves, grabbing 76 percent of the points on them in the opening set. On the other hand, Istomin lagged behind by the slightest of margins as he hit 74 percent of
the first serves. However, the Uzbek had a low conversion rate as he converted just 52 percent of the first serves into points in the first set. The Moscow resident capitalised on the only break point opportunity he received but failed to save two of the five
break points he faced in the opening set.
In the second set, Del Potro broke Istomin in the third game and consolidated on it to take a 3-1 lead. The Argentine broke his unseeded opponent again in the seventh game and held his next service game to win the set 6-2.
The right-handed fired two aces and 63 percent of the first serves, claiming an incredible 92 percent of the points on them in the second set. The six feet and six inches tall converted two of the four break points he received
on Istomin’s serve in the second set.
Del Potro said, talking to the reporters after the match, “For South American players, it's difficult to play on grass, but I want to learn on this surface. I want to improve my game, my serve, my volley. I know the best players
of [tennis] history win on grass courts, so I will try to win matches.”
The world number 22 added, “I want to have a good ranking for the US Open. I don't have time [ahead of] Wimbledon. I have won two tournaments this year and it’s amazing. I’m playing really well, but I need time to improve more.
I want to serve much better than [I am at] this moment.”
Del Potro is drawn to face world number 72 Igor Kunitsyn of Russia in the second round.
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