Novak Djokovic vs Juan Martin Del Potro Preview – French Open 2011
A battle of the titans is expected at the Philippe Chatrier, Stade Roland Garros on Friday, May 27th, as Novak Djokovic – the Serbian juggernaut takes on Juan Martin Del Potro – the Argentine giant. The pair will be meeting for their third round match at the 2011 Roland Garros, each hoping to emerge victorious.
Standing on a 39 match winning streak for this season – 41, if you take into account the 2010 Davis Cup Final, Djokovic is on the rise in 2011. Starting the year at the Grand Slam down under, the Australian Open the Serb bested Roger Federer in the semis before humiliating Brit Andy Murray in the final to clinch his second Grand Slam.
For most a Grand Slam win is the height of top form. However, for the young Serb this was just the beginning as he rose even higher winning one title after another. Winning at Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Belgrade, and Rome Djokovic extended his career winning streak to 37 for the season along with seven titles to his name, besting the reigning world number one Rafael Nadal in four of seven finals.
Victory after victory for the Serb made him seem unstoppable. The two clay victories over the King of Clay, Rafa, only consolidated the Serb’s winning form even further. However, what goes up must come down or so they say.
Perhaps the clay King couldn’t stop the Serbian juggernaut but maybe – just maybe the Argentine giant deal the final blow.
A former top five player, Del Potro may have what it takes to do the seemingly impossible. Sidelined by injury in 2010, the Argentine returned to the tennis “scene” in 2011 in top form. Title wins at Delray Beach and Estoril and semi-final berths at San Jose, Memphis and Indian Wells, catapulted Del Potro from 259th in January to 26th in the world now. He is still rising!
Playing in only his fifth French Open, Del Potro’s career best here came in 2009 when he made it to the semi-final before losing to eventual champion, Federer. Once more besting Del Potro, Djokovic has made it to the semis not once but twice though he lost to Nadal on both occasions.
He might be known as the Djoker, nevertheless, the Serb holds all the aces in the deck as he plays the Argentine today. Not only is he in his best form ever, he also holds a 3-0 lead in the career head-to-head against Del Potro with their most recent meeting in 2009 on the clay courts of Rome. In all three meetings, the Serb has never dropped a set against the Argentine.
Prediction: Though a recovered Del Potro might be trouble for many players on tour, he will need to bring a lot more to the courts today if he wishes to best the unstoppable Serb. Djokovic is expected to sail past the Argentine in straight, though perhaps not so simple, sets.
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