Juan Martin Del Potro leads Argentina into the semis after crushing Marin Cilic – Davis Cup WG 2012
Juan Martin Del Potro crushed Croatia’s Marin Cilic with breadsticks to lead Argentina into the semi-finals at the Davis Cup World Group 2012 on Sunday. He jolted down a 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 victory against the Croat on red clay courts at their home soil.
The 23-year-old Argentinean levelled the scores at 1-1 after defeating Ivo Karlovic in straight sets on Friday. His compatriots, David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank, then led their country take a 2-1 lead after winning the doubles rubber against the Croatian duo, Cilic and Karlovic, on Saturday.
In the first reverse singles rubber, Del Potro proved his worth and not only devastated Cilic but also clinched Argentina in this quarter-final fixture. As a result, the Argentinean also extended his lead in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 5-2 against the world number 23.
"It’s always amazing when you win a match and get the victory to go through," Del Potro commented in a post-match interview. "We have a good team this year to fight for the Davis Cup and all the team are happy for this weekend. Of course he was tired, but he was ready to play and he’s a very good professional. But I was focused on my game, on my work, and I played a very good game today."
The former world number four stormed into the Parque Roca in Buenos Aires and went on a five-game killing spree before Cilic could break back. He then capitalised on another break opportunity in the last game to pull out the opener with a breadstick.
Ranked 11th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Del Potro kept momentum sailing into the proceeding set and held his serve in the opening game. He then earned the coveted break in the fourth game, subsequently taking a 4-1 lead. The Argentinean held his remaining serves with poise and cashed in another break chance to seal the set by winning six games to two.
Del Potro unleashed his skills again in the final set and bagged the opening three games successively with a break of serve. After Cilic held his serve in the fourth game, the Argentinean winded up the last three games and clinched the final set with an assuring 6-1 score line.
Argentina will host Czech Republic in September for a place in the final. The Argentineans has reached four finals at the Davis Cup but has never clinched it.
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