Juan Martin Del Potro targets a Grand Slam title in 2013 – Tennis News
World number seven, Juan Martin Del Potro, saw his dreams being crushed at the indoor hard courts of the O2 Arena London by the reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic, in an enthralling three-setter that clearly demonstrated
the talent possessed by the 1.98 meters tall Argentine bronze medallist. He was leading by a set after the first phase of the match but the comeback master from Serbia did everything right in the following two phases to seal the victory 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The class of the former US Open Champion, Del Potro, depicted some good news for the Argentine. He couldn’t play at his full potential in the previous year due to niggling injuries but the 24-year-old athlete is on fire and probably
a strongest contender for the Grand Slam title in 2013 after the Top-4 arch rivals.
Del Potro lost the opening Round Rubber contest against the Spanish number two, David Ferrer, who is ranked fifth in the world. It was a three-setter but Ferrer was the clear cut dominant player. It was a kind of nervy performance
but the settled nerves in the second Round Rubber helped the Argentine to dispatch the ninth ranked Serb, Janko Tipsarevic, in straight sets 6-0, 6-4. He had a monumental task at his hand; had to beat the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, in the final Round Rubber
to qualify for the semi-finals. He won the opening set tie-breaker 7-6(3); lost the second phase 4-6 but recovered to mark a cracking victory with a 6-3 finish to the final set.
Del Potro told the reporters while conducting a press conference, “I think I’m playing good. I don’t know if I’m playing better than 2009 but being in the semi-finals in this tournament was so big for me. These kinds of matches
give me illusions for the next season. I beat Roger yesterday. I was close to beating Novak today. But in the end, they are too good for me.”
He further added, “But I’m getting closer every day. It’s my big challenge for next year, my big goal; trying to fight at all the grand slams with this group. You know, they are winning all the grand slams: Novak, Federer, Rafa
(Nadal) and now (Andy) Murray. I would like to be part of that in the grand slams.”
Next year will feature the comeback of the Spanish number one, Rafael Nadal, who is desperately missed at the courts. He will return from the knee injury layoff at the Australian Open and Del Potro will also be in the race to add
another Grand Slam title to his tally.
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