Juan Martin Del Potro sails past Marin Cilic into the fourth round – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Former world number four, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, brushed aside some late resistance from the 23rd seed, Marin Cilic of Croatia, ousting him in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(3) in the third round at the Sony Ericsson
Open in Miami on Monday.
Del Potro claimed an early lead, snatching a break in the third game of the opener and holding his following serve to go up 3-1. The Argentinean hit the second blow in the ninth game to capture it 6-3.
The 6ft 6in tall, Del Potro, hit a far less number of aces than he usually does. He fired a single ace and 67 percent of the first serves. However, the Argentinean had a stunning points conversion rate, winning 11 of the 12 first
and five of the six second delivery points. In comparison, Cilic banged in four aces but the Croatian also committed a couple of double faults. He succeeded in clinching just four of the 17 points on his second serves in the opener.
The second set saw a tough competition between both players. Cilic drew the first blood, breaking his opponent in the very first game and not losing any point in the next to grab a 2-0 lead. However, Del Potro responded in the
same manner, as he allowed the Croatian to win only one point in the next two games and squared off the score at 2-2. Both players kept on holding their serve after that to level the score at 6-6 and force a tie-breaker. Del Potro got a 5-0 lead and capitalised
on it to win 7-6(3).
The Argentinean bombarded three aces and 70 percent of the first deliveries, winning 19 of the 26 points on them in the second set. The right-hander improved the replies to his opponent’s serves, pocketing eight of the 20 first
and eight of the nine second retuns. Del Potro avoided one of the two break threats he came across and availed the only opportunity he received.
It took the Argentinean one hour and 48 minutes to beat Cilic in an evenly contested encounter.
Giving an interview to media a couple of days back, Del Potro shared his dream of becoming number one. He said, “It motivates me and gives me strength to wake up each morning knowing that the possibility exists. Not a day goes by that I don't dream of becoming
No.1."
The Argentinean will play fifth seed, David Ferrer of Spain, in the fourth round.
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