Rafael Nadal escaped a dramatically close round of 16 match against David Nalbandian on Wednesday night. Next up for the Spaniard is another Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro.
Juan Martin Del Potro is the No. 6 player in the world. The lanky Argentine had an outstanding season in 2008, where he won 4 consecutive titles. One thing he has yet to however, is to take a set from Rafael Nadal. The two men have played on three occasions; Nadal has skated through each match easily. All of the matches took place in 2007. Del Potro has improved his game considerably since that time – but so has Nadal.
Del Potro won the Australian Open tune-up event in Auckland, but since then he’s been ousted in three successive quarterfinals. One of the quarterfinal losses came to Roger Federer at the Australian Open; the Argentine was completely decimated in that match. He won a total of 3 games before Federer finally put him out of his misery.
Nadal has had the far more difficult draw this week. The Spaniard has had to get through both Dmitry Tursunov and David Nalbandian on his way to the quarters. Del Potro’s toughest test came against Jurgen Melzer of Austria. Nadal’s form was a bit off in the early going of his round of 16 match against David Nalbandian, but by the third set (which Nadal won 6-0) the Spaniard had found the kind of form that won him the Australian Open earlier this year.
Prediction – expect Del Potro to continue his quarterfinal result run for at least one more tournament. Nadal in straight sets.
Posted: 22.03.09 20:13. Post subject: Nadal tops Del Potro..
quote:
Nadal tops Del Potro to move on Bill Byron • The Desert Sun • March 21, 2009
INDIAN WELLS — Down to their matching teal headbands and nearly identical teal shirts, it would have been difficult to tell Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro apart from one another — had it not been for their tennis.
Nadal's game was so good in the quarterfinal match that he made a strong performance by del Potro look lackluster, knocking off the No. 6 seed 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 49 minutes.
But the performance wasn't good enough for the top ranked player, who spent nearly an hour practicing his serve after the match.
“I was happy about the beginning, I served well in the beginning, but I had some mistakes,” Nadal said of the match. “But I'm happy I beat No. 6 in the world.”
Nadal picked up his first break of serve in the third game of the first set, but not without a fight from del Potro, who pushed the game to four deuces before finally going down.
Not that it was necessary, but Nadal broke the Argentine once again in the seventh game to go up 5-2 shortly after del Potro took a medical timeout to have his trainer look at his forearm, although del Potro didn't seem bothered by it.
The second set was no easier for del Potro, who was beaten by a methodical Nadal in the first game at 30.
Del Potro did give Nadal a run for his money in the fourth game, forcing Nadal to six deuces to hold serve and finally put the Argentine away.
In fact, Nadal only faltered once the entire match. Already ahead two breaks, the Spaniard committed two unforced errors in the eighth game of the second set to allow del Potro to regain a break and hold on his next service game to come within 5-4.
But that was as close as it got in the second set, with Nadal holding serve at love in the next game to take the match.
The victory sets up a semifinal between Nadal and seventh-seeded Andy Roddick, who beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets earlier Friday.
“He's playing really well — he made the semifinals in Australia, he won in Memphis, it's going to be a really tough match,” Nadal said. “I must serve very well if I want to win.”
Posted: 03.04.09 04:47. Post subject: Sony Ericsson Open A..
Sony Ericsson Open April 2, 2009 J. DEL POTRO/R. Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What do you think was the difference today for you? You've never beaten him before, never taken a set off him, I don't think. Why today do you think it turned? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Because always I was keep going and keep trying. I beat him with my mind and with my game. When we played long points, I was dominating every time, so that was the key of the last set, of the tiebreak. But I beat for first time.
Q. Did you come into this match thinking differently about him, or did you just come in the middle of the match and you realized you had a chance? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No. I know him since 12 years. We play many times. Sometimes I can play good and sometimes bad, but today I did everything. I served very good, and with my forehand with big confidence. To beat Rafa, you have to be in good shape and every part of your game, and today I did a great job.
Q. Did it feel like Buenos Aires out there, and how much did that help you? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, a lot. There are many Argentinians and Latina, they all support me a lot. They help me too much for this victory.
Q. Rafa did not think that you played unbelievably good. He didn't think it was one of your better matches. He thought he really played terribly? How would you categorize your play tonight? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I played unbelievable. I beat the No. 1 of the world. If you don't play unbelievable, you cannot beat him. I'm happy, but tomorrow I will play again, so I have to think in the next match.
Q. It looked like when you were down 2-3 in the tiebreak that you got aggressive and you took the match to him. Did you feel that way? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I have a little bit lucky in the tiebreak. But I fight like three hours to be in the tiebreak, so five more points will be to decide to the match, and I was trying until the final. That's was the big thing of the match.
Q. You're down 3-0 at the beginning of the third, two breaks. What are you thinking right then? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I start to enjoy the match, the people, the crowds, the quarterfinals. And I start to play more relaxes and more aggressive, too. Then the match going different. I broke his serve in 3-0, and then 3-2. When I was 5-4, I say, Now I can beat him. That's was a big difference in my mind.
Q. Even when you had three match points and you had the forehand set up, even when you missed that, you still believed? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah. Because Rafa did two aces, and then I have my opportunity with my forehand. But sometimes go in and sometimes no. The important is I was fighting until the final, and now I'm happy for the victory.
Q. Is this the biggest moment of your career? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Of course.
Q. How about a win on Sunday? Would that be better? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: It would be better, but I have to play tomorrow.
Posted: 03.04.09 04:54. Post subject: Del Potro Stuns Nada..
Del Potro Stuns Nadal By Richard Pagliaro Thursday, April 02, 2009 Tennisweek.com
Juan Martin del Potro flung his racquet high in the sky like a frisbee and hung his head in frustration as it splattered to the court behind him.
The sixth-seeded Argentine had watched a one-set, one break lead dissipate like drops of sweat vanshing and witnessed Rafael Nadal fight off three match points to force a final set tiebreaker and ratchet the intensity of this dramatic duel up several levels. The racquet, like del Potro's hopes, rose and seemed to crash suddenly.
Hurling his racquet as a form of stress relief, del Potro regained his composure then threw everything he had at the World No. 1.
In a tennis tug of war that saw both men compete with grit, del Potro delivered one of the most monumental wins of his young career, outlasting Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) to register his first career victory over a top-three player and advance to his first career Masters Series semifinal at the Sony Ericsson Open today.
Argentine fans, including Hall of Famer Gabriela Sabatini, traded cheers with Spanish fans creating a near Davis Cup-type atmosphere. The lanky 20-year-old from Tandil, Argentina will take on either fourth-seeded Scot Andy Murray or another left-handed Spaniard, eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco, in Friday's semifinals.
In his post-match press conference, Nadal said his comeback to force the tie breaker was due to del Potro's level dropping rather than Nadal elevating his game. Nadal, who was faced with the challenge of trying to win the Sony Ericsson Open after claiming Indian Wells, ran into an opponent who forced him into defensive positions. You could call it a perfect storm; Nadal called it "an amazing disaster."
"I didn't come back very strong. He started to make mistakes," said Nadal, who has won ever Masters Series title except Miami and Cincinnati. "I think I played bad all the time. I think that's the truth of the match. I have the match lost. I was playing terrible (making) a lot of mistakes and later with the 3-0 (third-set lead) it was an amazing disaster."
The duel spanned three hours and in the end del Potro's willingness to take risk and drive his flatter strokes into the corners with authority was the difference.
Nadal had fought off five match points in defeating del Potro's Davis Cup teammate, David Nalbandian, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0, en route to winning Indian Wells last month.
Tennis' top trouble shooter was in the midst of yet another captivating comeback today.
Trailing 5-6 in the final set, Nadal summoned that familiar fighting spirit in saving three match points. He erased the first with a 124 mph ace out wide, won the second when del Potro whacked a forehand into net and reached back for his biggest serve of the match — a 131 mph missile — to fight off the third match point before eventually forcing the tie breaker. But that authoritative ball striking and willingness to step in the court and take the match to del Potro was lacking in the latter stages of the tie breaker.
When Nadal's backhand return collided with the top of the tape and fell over to give him a 3-2 lead in the breaker it seemed fortune favored the top-seeded Spaniard, who was just four points from yet another captivating comeback.
Del Potro, however, refused to yield. As Nadal grew oddly passive in his play, del Potro picked his spots to attack.
The six-time Grand Slam champion hit a poor drop shot then bungled a backhand pass down the line. On the 29th shot of the ensuing rally, del Potro pounded an inside-out forehand winner then followed a stinging forehand to net and stuck a fine forehand drop volley winner for 5-3. Playing defensive tennis and resorting to his slice backhand throughout the latter stages of the tie breaker, Nadal could not summon the aggression he showed in building a 3-0 third-set lead.
"You can say one thousand reasons (for the loss)," Nadal said. "I think he didn't play one of his best matches — that's what I feel. I don't know. I think he played well. His level is number seven of the world; he's very good. And I think he didn't play an unbelievable match and I didn't play on my level today."
Nadal missed a one-handed backhand to hand del Potro three match points and when the 2008 finalist flailed a forehand into the net, del Potro crossed himself and broke into a broad smile. Nadal, showing class in defeat, stopped to sign autographs for a group of kids before heading to the exit with his sights fixed firmly on the upcoming clay-court season.
"I usually do not lose a match with two breaks in the third. I did not play well in this tournament," Nadal said. "A little bit the first day, but I played bad all the time so in a way quarterfinals is a positive results I didn't adapt well to this tournament at this time. I am very happy to come back to clay and I will try to play good matches on clay."
Posted: 03.04.09 12:39. Post subject: InGale Но все же на..
InGale Но все же надежда есть, раз снялся значит была травма, а на ЮСО проиграл, но ведь поупиралси. А теперь совсем другой расклад, после победы над Надалем, уверность в своих силах должна прибавиться, эх главное запала бы хватило. А может быть я выдаю желаемое за действительное
Posted: 03.04.09 13:11. Post subject: Марьяна Мне, конеч..
Марьяна
Мне, конечно, тоже очень хочется верить, что он сможет поганку одолеть. Но не знаю, он вполне может и уставшим быть после 3 часов с Рафой. А Энди без труда сломил Нандо, будет гораздо свежее. Тоже фактор... Но в любом случае, у Хуана наконец есть в послужном списке и победа над топом (да еще каким!) и это может придать ему уверенности на будущее. А сегодня будет очень интересно посмотреть как он с рыжим сыграет... Как оптимист буду верить в победу!
Posted: 03.04.09 13:32. Post subject: InGale Марьяна не х..
InGaleМарьяна не хочу вас огорчать, но шансы против марри у дельпико не шибко высоки, т.к. играть им сегодня, а Дельпо гонял три часа против Рафы.Сомнительно, что он сможет восстановиться к матчу со скоттом... Но Лея права, главное, что он смог обыграть Рафы - это очень важно для будущего и конфиденса, о котором говорят все теннисисты
Posted: 03.04.09 16:36. Post subject: Miami Miracle: Del P..
Miami Miracle: Del Potro comes back from the dead By Peter Bodo Last Updated: April 2, 2009 9:25 PM TENNIS.com
MIAMI, Fla.—Just how much room is there at the top of the game, especially for a guy who likes to parade his guns in a sleeveless shirt, bangs out the big serves and forehands, and stands a good five inches taller than Andy Roddick?
I suppose it’s a rhetorical question, because if 6-7 Juan Martin del Potro can sustain the level he often reached today while pasting up a three-set upset of Rafael Nadal in the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals, he’ll make his own room, even if it means shoving a couple of other guys – Andy Roddick? Nikolay Davydenko? – into the abyss.
The win was as unlikely as it was resounding – less because of what happened than how it transpired. Del Potro won the first set, 6-4. Nadal took the second, 6-3, and led by two breaks (3-0) in the third when the wheels fell off the most reliable wagon in tennis these days. “It was amazing disaster,” Nadal said later, adding an emphatic, “Yeah.” In tennis, one man’s disaster is another’s Woodstock. With his prospects suddenly looking hopeless, del Potro allowed himself to relax and enjoy the festive atmosphere. They sometimes call this tournament, played in the heart of a region loaded with Latin expats, emigrants, and tourists, the Grand Slam of South America. Today, it was the major of Argentina. That wasn’t North Carolina Tar Heel blue you saw everywhere you looked in the stadium – it was the national colors of Argentina.
Here’s how del Potro described the moment that turned the match his way: “Well, (at 0-3) I start to enjoy the match, the people, the crowds, the quarterfinals. And I start to play more relaxed and more aggressive, too. Then the match going different. I broke his serve in 3-0, and then 3-2. When I was 5-4, I say, ‘Now I can beat him’. That's was a big difference in my mind.”
Still, this was Nadal, not David Nalbandian, across the net. And that all but guaranteed that things would get more rather than less interesting. Nadal hung in – barely, most of the time – as del Potro cracked the big serve and forehand time and again, exploiting the most glaring of Nadal’s deficiencies – his inability to keep the ball closer to the baseline than the service line in del Potro’s court. Lines were painted there to be hit, not to avoid.
The mandate to hit the ball deep is an easy one to overlook, but a deadly one to ignore or forget. In this case, Nadal’s short groundies ensured that the ball sat up beautifully for del Potro’s ultra-solid strokes. Essentially, Nadal teed it up, and once del Potro straightened out his swing, he was hitting the long drives square and sweet.
It was a struggle for Nadal just to get into the tiebreaker. He had to stare down three match points, and he did it with his trademark courage – twice with an ace; the one that wiped away match point No. 3 was a 131 mph screamer, the fastest serve he hit today. That’s Nadal: always leave room for desert.
Early in the tiebreaker, it looked as if Nadal had wormed his way off the hook. He scored a mini-break to lead, 3-2, with two serves to come. But he followed it up by surrendering both his serves. He never led again, and del Potro finished him off, 7-3.
Del Potro is talented and surprisingly smooth for such a big man. He’s been an emerging force in the men’s game since the summer of 2008, when he amassed (among other things) a 23-match winning streak and four titles in succession, two on clay and two on hard courts similar to those here on Key Biscayne. His most ardent advocates include John McEnroe. But del Potro had never come within a “hola” of Nadal in four previous matches (Nadal had won nine straight sets against the lanky 20-year old), so it’s fair to ask if Nadal brought his A-game to the park today. His own answer was a definitive “No.”
“I think I played really bad all the time,” Nadal said. “That's the true of the match.”
Moreover, when Nadal was asked how well del Potro played, his reply was uncharacteristically niggardly. He said, “ I think he didn't play one of his best matches, no? That's what I feel. I don't know. You can ask him later maybe. But I think he played well. His level is 7 of the world, no, so he's very good. I think he didn't play an unbelievable match, but I didn't play on my best level today.”
If we didn’t know Nadal better, we might say this was a case of sour grapes. And it suggested that all is not well in Nadal’s world – a suspicion he more or less confirmed at the very end of his press conference, when he was asked if he had a good handle on why he’d played such a ragged match.
“Always is a reason because you are not playing at your level during the tournament. No, I am calm. I am happy about myself, about everything this year, yeah. . . I don't know. Always is a reason, but it's personal.”
There is probably more to this comment than meets the eye, but we’ll have to wait and see. Meanwhile, del Potro has moved a little closer to the top of the game, clinching the No. 5 spot in the wold rankings.
Those thuds you hear are the sound of Andy Roddick (formerly no. 6) and Nikolay Davydenko (last week’s no. 5) hitting the ground.
Posted: 03.04.09 16:44. Post subject: тоже сомневаюсь, что..
тоже сомневаюсь, что Дельпо сможет восстановиться к вечеру, и физически, и особенно морально - ведь по сути он уже Выиграл. все же интересно, что он сумеет найти в своих резервах.
главное, мне кажется, в том, что он наконец смог победить лидера Тура, в таком затратном во всех смыслах матче, не сломался, не отошел психологически, как бывало раньше. Дельпо созрел для крупных побед.
Posted: 04.04.09 04:51. Post subject: Эх, проиграл Потро( ..
Эх, проиграл Потро( Не дал Рафе феерично закончить четверть хардового сезона, и сам в матче со Скоттом раскрыл все карты , но играл очень здорово, особенно во втором сете. В третьем держался, пока Энди не взял брейк.
Posted: 04.04.09 06:16. Post subject: April 2, 2009 - Marv..
April 2, 2009 - Marvelous Del Potro upsets Marvelous Nadal Blog by Charles Bricker
What a fabulous run of matches, three days in a row, it has been for the Sony Ericsson Open. I only hope tournament chairman Butch Buchholz, one of the great guys in tennis, is cashing in during these depressing economic times.
Beginning on Tuesday, the men's tennis has been way over the top.
First, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka in a round of 16 minor epic. Then, Roger Federer sticking his nose in front of Andy Roddick at the quarterfinal wire last night. And now this Thursday afternoon quarterfinal gripper with Juan Martin Del Potro rallying from two breaks down in the final set to nick Nadal, the world's No. 1, in the sweatbox that passes as the Crandon Park stadium.
The on-court clock was right at 3:00 when Nadal took the balls in the third-set tiebreak. He went through his usual schtick -- pulling at the seat of his pants, wiping the sweat off the tip of his nose with a wrist band and tucking a couple of loose hairs back behind his ear. Then he prepared to fend off match point No. 4.
Not this time.
His forehand into the net ended his quest for back-to-back Masters 1000 titles (Indian Wells and Key Biscayne) and sent the 6-foot-6, or whatever they're currently measuring him at, Del Potro into the final four.
It was a roller coaster ride. A ribbon road. It might have been a mobius strip. The match was a continuum of momentum changes. Neither player could seize this match by the throat until Del Potro, with both arms extended triumphantly over his long, lean body, began celebrating with the final count at 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3).
In the stands there were Argentine and Spanish flags being flapped by partisans in every corner and the chanting at times gave the match the feeling of a Davis Cup tie. And as noisy as the Argies were during the knock-up, there couldn't have been many who would have bet serious money that Del Potro, only 20 years old, would win this.
In four previous matches, he had failed to win a set from Nadal. Two weeks ago at Indian Wells, Nadal took him down in the quarters by 6-2, 6-4. Del Potro has been playing top-10 quality tennis since the middle of 2008, cracking the top 10 on Oct. 6, reaching a career best No. 6 in January of this year and came to Key Biscayne at No. 7.
Yet despite the impressive ranking numbers, he was still just a 20-year-old with a big upside and a kid who hadn't yet conclusively proved he could play top 10 mental tennis. That was some beautiful ball he played to reach the quarters of the Australian Open two months ago, before he was crushed by Federer 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. The tennis conoscenti winked. Not ready, they figured.
Well, he certainly looked ready Thursday. He had his faltering moments as he was blown off the court in the second set and was down love-3 within minutes of the beginning of the third. But there was no cave-in.
He broke back twice and had three match points with Nadal serving at 5-6. Rafa banged a couple of aces and Del Potro netted an inside-out forehand to allow Nadal to hold and get into the tiebreak, where Del Potro's mental strength would receive yet another severe test.
Nadal had gone in front 3-2, a mini-break, when his backhand return clipped the net and flopped over, leaving Del Potro no play. And now Rafa had the balls and a lead. It wasn't hard to see him up 5-2, but he lost both serves.
He hit an extraordinarily poor drop shot that Del Potro easily reached to force a Nadal error, and then, on the 30th shot of a scintillating rally, the Argentine closed on a short ball and crashed a forehand winner. That long point alone might have said all that needed to be said about Del Potro's mental strength in this match.
From there, it was a bit of luck, a bit of cool shot selection and Nadal's final error.
Del Potro went up 5-3 when he half-framed a volley that deadened out before Nadal could reach it and it was 6-3 as Del Potro hit behind the fleeing Nadal for a winner.
Wow. Great stuff out there.
The way this match began it looked like a dud. Early on, Del Potro had two winners and 12 unforced errors. But Nadal couldn't cash in for a break and, in fact, he looked out of sync with his forehand and he looked -- dare I say it -- a little bit slow. He didn't look ready to play this match at the outset, but you knew that wouldn't last. He located his rhythm through the second set and into the third. His serving picked up. He recalibrated his forehand and he seemed to be rolling to an easy three-set victory.
But from 0-3 in the third, Del Potro was golden. Nerves? Hardly any. He might have put this away at 5-6 on the second match point. I thought he pushed that inside-out forehand a bit . . . didn't really drive through it. We'll have to go back and look at that on the slo-mo. Still, if there was that little bit of tentativeness there, it didn't carry over into the tiebreak.
And so Del Potro moves on and Nadal is returning to Mallorca to prep for the clay season where, last year, he was 15-1 going into the French Open. He's got some ranking points to defend the next two months, but this is clay. This is Nadal's hallowed ground and there's nothing like the red powder to take the sting out of this upset.
Posted: 04.04.09 06:30. Post subject: Sony Ericsson Open A..
Sony Ericsson Open April 3, 2009 A. MURRAY/J. Del Potro 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How were you feeling physically out there in general? Obviously you had a very long match against Nadal. How were you feeling? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: So tired. Last night I was with the match in my mind. I cannot sleep very well. Today I run a lot again, and I don't feel good with my physical. But I feel happy. I feel confidence with my game and I did a great tournament, so I go home with a good week.
Q. What do you think you improved most the last few months? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: The serve, the forehand, and the mind. In this sport you have to be good with your mind, with your team and everything. That's what I working.
Q. There was one point where you took an injury timeout towards the end of the match. What was the problem there? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Cramping in my legs. It was too tough, the match, and was normal.
Q. How will you prepare for clay court season now? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I have like a week to train in clay courts. I have Monte-Carlo, Rome, and Madrid to be in good shape until Roland Garros. So I hope I do a great training, good practice to be in good shape for that tournament.
Q. Where will you be training? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Home.
Q. You had one time violation, and there were a couple of discussions between you and Andy throughout the course of the match. What did you say to each other at the end of the match? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, we doesn't have discussions. No, we just ask about the balls, because many balls was so close. But no discussions. After the match, I say, Good luck. Playing very good. He say, You did well yesterday. That's it.
Q. I just wonder, you're going to go to No. 5 in the world on Monday's rankings. How does that make you feel that you're now part that was very top bracket of players? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: It's good for me, for my future. But I don't want to be 5, I want to be better.
Posted: 04.04.09 12:24. Post subject: Жаль, не получилось...
Жаль, не получилось. Усталость после матча с Рафой дала о себе знать. И надо было этому Рафе так сопротивляться? А Хуан молодец! Пусть и дальше так прогрессирует! Горжусь им!
The tennis season is long, but like anything else that doesn’t involve your own daily 9 to 5 labor, it passes with disconcerting speed—“Time is a jet plane,” Bob Dylan sang, “it moves too fast.” Maybe it’s the scattershot, peak-and-valley nature of the early-year schedule—massive tournament to start, nothing for a month, followed by two big events in rapid-fire succession—that catches us off guard. We’re not worn down by weekly results yet. By the time the players get to Europe and that grind begins in earnest, a quarter of the year—one Slam, two Masters/Premier events, a round of Davis and Fed Cup—is gone.
With that in mind, the time seems right to take stock of how the game and its players have measured up to expectations so far in 2009.
Juan-Martin del Potro
The gently brooding giant has bounced back nicely after his Davis Cup debacle last winter. He won in Auckland to start the year and reached his second Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne. While he suffered an embarrassing two-bagel loss to Federer there, del Potro bounced back again to make a Masters semi in Key Biscayne. Biggest of all, he recorded his first win in 14 attempts over one of the Big 4 when he came back to beat Nadal in Miami. That’s important—he had looked utterly lost and overwhelmed against the top guys until then. DP's development, after last year’s breakthrough, remains on track. He may take his losses hard, but he can forget them. A-
Posted: 10.04.09 17:33. Post subject: Clay Court Forecast ..
quote:
Clay Court Forecast Posted 04/08/2009 @ 5 :00 PM By Pete Bodo TENNIS.com
This one is pretty easy: cool in the mornings, with periods of sun mixed with clouds and a 40 per cent chance of light showers. But when that thunder starts to roll in from Spain. . . Run for your lives, it's women and children first, stay out from under the trees, and if there are any men left, dial 1-800-Save-Us-From-Rafa!
That's pretty much how it's been for about the past three years, with Rafael Nadal going on perhaps the greatest run of clay-court tennis every put together by a male player. The only guy who might hold his own in that conversation would be Bjorn Borg, whose prowess on red dirt was comparable to Nadal's, but who played in an era that generally had less depth-of-competition, especially on clay. So why should things be any different this year? Well, because things change - maybe not on a predictable or annual basis, but everyone embarking on that red clay road is different from the person and player he was 12 months ago (How Zen is that?).
But seriously, let's look at some of the top clay-court contenders and evaluate their chances in the upcoming season on clay.
No. 5, Juan Martin del Potro: Delpo doesn't have a single win in a Masters Series on clay; he's strictly a hard court hombre. In three years at Roland Garros, he's won exactly one match. He's got an awful lot of body to lug around in endless clay court matches. On the other hand, he obviously has a chance to pick up a bushel of ranking points if he can win a few matches here and there on clay, so I wouldn't write him off entirely. A guy with a huge serve and groundies can come up big on clay, because the slowness of the surface will enable him to get to more balls, and draw a bead on them, than he might reach on a faster hard court. He could be a pleasant surprise.
Posted: 21.04.09 22:15. Post subject: по поводу ближайшего..
по поводу ближайшего календаря можно сказать, что Дельпо будет на мастерсах-1000 в Риме и Мадриде, что очевидно, так как турниры обязательные. если будет со здоровьем все ТТТТТТТ. Эсторил, Мюнхен, Белград - в списках не значится. в Китцбюеле сейчас числятся заявленными всего 4 человека, и это не Дельпо. зато он есть в аргентинской команде, участвующей в ARAG World Team Cup, 17-23 мая, в Дюссельдорфе.
Posted: 22.04.09 16:46. Post subject: Tatiana Ага, спаси..
Tatiana
Ага, спасибо за инфу!!!
Я как то нашел его блог, причем буквально пару неделю назад, но он не обновлялся аж с итогового в Шанхае того года... Или с финала КД... они там где-то в одно время были.
Posted: 16.05.09 17:54. Post subject: перенесу свой вчераш..
перенесу свой вчерашний пост из текущих турниров:
Tatiana пишет:
quote:
Отправлено: Сегодня 03:06. Заголовок: Del Potro d Murray 7.. - новое!
Del Potro d Murray 76 63
ну сегодня радость - так уж радость. двойная Дельпо победил фаворита, Энди М., и вышел в 1/2 мадридского мастерса. основное впечатление от матча - как Дельпо забивает смешами свечки Энди. VAMOS!!!
Post №: 1082
Joined: 24.03.09
Location: Россия, Ногинск
Rank:
5
Posted: 17.05.09 11:05. Post subject: Хуан Мартин Дель Пот..
Хуан Мартин Дель Потро: «Остался привкус горечи от поражения в полуфинале»
Аргентинец Хуан Мартин Дель Потро, проигравший в полуфинале турнира в Мадриде швейцарцу Роджеру Федереру со счетом 3:6, 4:6, рассказал, что, несмотря на в целом успешно проведенный турнир, чувствует горечь от поражения в полуфинале.
«Я удачно провел этот турнир, полуфинал турнира серии Masters – это хороший результат, тем не менее, остался привкус горечи от поражения в полуфинале.
Шаг за шагом, я чувствую себя увереннее в матчах против игроков такого уровня, у меня были шансы, и игра проходила в равной борьбе», – цитирует Дель Потро официальный сайт турнира.
Posted: 26.05.09 18:31. Post subject: J. DEL POTRO/M. Llod..
J. DEL POTRO/M. Llodra
6-3, 6-3, 6-1
An interview with:
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You're one of the new members in the top 10, a lot of new faces compared to a year ago. Can you just talk about this change at the top of the sport?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Was a big change for my game, for my career. Now I'm in top 10 players. I'm a long way to be a good player, really good player like Nadal or Federer. So I'm working on that. Every day I try to improve my game, to give my goals.
Q. What I mean is we have several new players in the top 10 from a new year ago, you, Monfils, Simon, Murray. Quite a different group than one year ago.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Everybody's playing very good since July of 2008, especially Simon. He wins on every surface. We can play with every player. We can beat sometimes the four best players. But we need to win matches in every tournament like Nadal or Djokovic.
Q. So there's still a big gap between you and the top 4?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yes, of course, yes.
Q. Could you tell me about your potential next opponent Lukasz Kubot?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: He's losing. I never saw him. But he did final two weeks ago in Serbia. I know he's a very good doubles player. He has a very good serve, but maybe he lose.
Q. Are you going to see his practice?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I don't know. I don't know yet. I'm enjoying this victory.
THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions.
Q. Today was your best match here at Roland Garros. You've gained points.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, winning is something wonderful. This is a nice tournamen there in France, in Paris. I'd like to continue on the same path. I feel good. I've played very interesting matches. I feel good. I think my style is adapted. I hope I can continue on the same tracks and make the most of it.
Q. You've played on clay, like almost never.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, yes, absolutely. But last year I played really well on clay,and now I have different feelings.
I must say I've played other Masters, and my results were good. The matches I played were good, as well, but a Grand Slam will give you unique feelings. The matches are different. It's five sets, you know. Well, possibly. So many things can happen. I feel good, which is what really counts.
Q. I don't really know where to start, but I'd like to know where your family name comes from, Del Potro. Is itSpanish or Italian? What's the origin of your family name?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: My grandparents were Italian.
Q. Do you know where they came from?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, I have no idea.
Q. It's important to know where your roots are.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I only knew my grandparents, but my family name comes from my great grandparents.
Q. After today's match, what do you think you can improve and work on?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, frankly, nothing inparticular. It was in and out due to the rain, and I don't really know what I should focus on.
I played volley or a number of aces. I don't really feel good when it's baseline, but I think what I did well is I played well the moments I had to play really well, and this was sufficient. I had to break during each set, and I won the match.
But next match will probably be different. We'll have longer rallies. It's going to be more baseline playing, and I'll have to be very careful with my serve.
Q. Is it not a problem to stop and start again when you've started playing, and then there's a break? You have to stop for awhile. Is it not difficult?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, yes, of course. It's always a problem for everybody. You don't really know what to do. You have to wait. Sometimes you go back to the cloak rooms, and then they say they're going to stop for something like 10 minutes, but then you have to stop for a longer while. It's a feeling that no players like at all. But it all depends. It all depends how you feel during the match.
Q. Have you looked at the draw? Do you know who you'll be playing against in the top 4? It's a big challenge for you, probably.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, I don't know who I'll play against. We'll see.
Post №: 1245
Joined: 24.03.09
Location: Россия, Ногинск
Rank:
6
Posted: 26.05.09 22:54. Post subject: Хуан Мартин Дель Пот..
Хуан Мартин Дель Потро: «Не очень хорошо чувствовал себя на задней линии»
Аргентинец Хуан Мартин Дель Потро, обыгравший в стартовом матче «Ролан Гаррос» Мишеля Ллодра из Франции со счетом 6:3, 6:3, 6:1, рассказал, что ему надо улучшить в его игре.
«Честно говоря, не знаю, что я могу улучшить. Из-за дождя были перепады в игре, и я не знаю, на чем я должен сосредоточиться. Я играл слета, сделал несколько эйсов. Я не очень хорошо себя чувствовал на задней линии, но в нужные моменты сыграл качественно, и это принесло успех. Я сделал по брейку в каждом сете и выиграл матч. Но следующий матч, видимо, будет другим. У нас будут долгие розыгрыши, много игры на задней линии, и мне придется более аккуратно играть на своей подаче», – приводит слова теннисиста официальный сайт турнира
Posted: 29.05.09 00:09. Post subject: French Open Thursday..
French Open Thursday, May 28, 2009
J. DEL POTRO/V. Troicki 6‑3, 7‑5, 6‑0
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. I wanted to ask you something. Have you seen any Acasuso and Federer and their match?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No. I saw when it was 5‑4, then I had to play.
Q. How did you feel today?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I felt good. I think I played better till the second set, 5 to 1, and then I lost my concentration. It was difficult for me to catch up afterwards to get into the match,and twice I led.
It was tough for me,and then it was 5‑All. Then the break, 6‑5. That was really when it was hard. It's a good thing I won the second set. I saw that during the third set he wanted to leave, not to stay on the court, so I took advantage of this.
Q. Now, you had ups and downs, you've had some problems on the court. Do you think can you draw from this experience in the future?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, because sometimes, you know, you win so easily that it's perhaps a bit dangerous. When things are more complicated, it's sometimes better, because sometimes, you know, when you think it's going to be easy and then things get more complicated, it's good. You can overcome the objects. This is what I did. I suffered sometimes quite a lot.
Then I was really into the match. I played all the points, and this set was a key set.
Q. What about your mental preparation? You have not been really very much covered by the press. Would you like to be more covered by the press?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No, it's okay with me. I try and play my matches, and then, you know, we have the top 4 for this tournament. That's okay if the press has decided to focus on the top 4.
Pico is someone who can play a great tournament here or elsewhere, but otherwise we're not covered that much by the press, and I prefer this.
Q. You might be against Pico on your way. Do you feel strongly emotionally about this or not?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: He's a very good player. He's well balanced, so it's going to be a real fight.
Q. It was a five‑hour match. Do you think it's easy to get over this?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: During the first round, it was a five‑hour match. Here again another five‑hour match. I don't think I'm that exhausted, but it would be better if I don't play too long too much. The most important thing is to focus on your opponent's style.
Posted: 30.05.09 22:02. Post subject: J. DEL POTRO/I.Andre..
J. DEL POTRO/I.Andreev
6-4, 7-5, 6-4
An interview with:
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. As we go further in the tournament, the matches are getting more difficult, I guess. What happened today? You were not very comfortable on the court. Was it the wind? Your opponent?
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO: Well, a bit of everything. And it was my opponent mostly. I was not very comfortable during 80% of mymatch, and then the court. I didn't feelvery comfortable, either. It was verydry, very fast. He is a very hardhitter. He hits his ball very hard, andsometimes it's difficult to return.
Then, you know, I managed the important moments well, and during the ‑‑ at 5‑All in thesecond set and also in the first set, by the way. So I suffered, it's true, but I went through.
Q. Talking about the court, what happened in the first set?
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO: Well, I realized when I walked on the court,I realized that the court was very dry, very dry. So I asked them to water the court in thefirst set. They said no. Then I asked them to water the court a secondtime during the second set, and they did, but then there was wind. So it wasn't perfect.
Then my serve was notall that good, but, you know, at important moments when I had this break pointagainst me, I managed to serve an ace. Ialso saved match points and I managed to win the match on my first serve.
Q. You are now going to play Tsonga, so this must be very important foryou.
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO: Yes. This is going to be a very difficult match. I'll play on the central court, and he playsvery well indeed. He won in Monaco,a very high level match, so that helped him with his confidence level, and heplayed awfully well today. That was avery quick match for him, so I have to be careful on all points to go furtherin this tournament.
Q. So your next match is on the central court. You never played there, or maybe once, justonce. Is it an advantage because Tsongahas always played his matches on the central court, and you played your matcheson much smaller courts? Is it a positiveor negative point for you?
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO: Well, I'd like to have time topractice tomorrow to get some feelings about this court, you know. It's much bigger. You've got five meters behind you as comparedto the smaller courts I played on so far. But I know I have to be very focused and to be very careful, because theentire crowd will be supporting him. That's for sure.
We're here in Paris. The crowd is going to support him, so I have to be focused, play my game, play my match, and not start thinking about other things which are not related to the match.
Q. Can you still have fun and pleasure playing at such a high level in the tournament, or do you stop having fun at one stage?
JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO: No, you always have fun when you play tennis, even after a third round in a Grand Slam. I mean, maybe today I didn't have that much fun because I was notfeeling comfortable with the game of my opponent, but I love to have fun during the fourth round. I'll be playing on the central court against a French player who is a beautiful player, and, you know,all this is quite motivating. It helps you forget everything and just have fun and pleasure.
Post №: 1015
Joined: 22.03.09
Location: Киев
Rank:
9
Posted: 01.06.09 20:14. Post subject: Впечатлил! http://j..
Впечатлил! До матча с Цонгой ни одного проигранного сета не было. И с франком играл красиво. Болеть за него вряд ли буду, но класс топ-игрока уже прослеживается.
Posted: 01.06.09 21:15. Post subject: Up close and persona..
Up close and personal with Juan Martin Del Potro Monday, June 1, 2009 By Eric Frosio
Here at Rolandgarros.com we know you love to get an insight into the real person behind the tennis star facade. Today we get up close and personal with No5 seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who reveals his love for Roger Federer’s game, football and music. What’s your favourite website? Hotmail.
Which part of your game would you like to improve? I’d love to have Federer’s attacking game. What’s the last thing you do before going to sleep? I turn off my mobile phones.
What puts you in a bad mood in the morning? Being woken up by people shouting.
What’s your favourite thing for breakfast? Pastries, toast with jam and Nesquik.
Who’s your favourite comedy actor? Jim Carrey and Guillermo Francella (an Argentinean comedian).
What would be a luxury for you? Living in Tandil, surrounded by my friends and family.
What do you have on your iPod? Maná, Shakira, U2 and Coldplay.
What’s your song favourite song right now? “Mando una señal" by Maná.
Who’s your ideal mixed doubles partner? Gabriela Sabatini. What’s the worst thing that could happen to you before a match? I can’t stand it when people touch my rackets. Who was your first love? My best female friend, when I was 16. When did you last crack up laughing? Yesterday, with my fitness coach. When did you last get angry? When River Plate equalised against Boca Juniors, in the last derby.
What’s your favourite film? I really like series, such as Prison Break.
Which actor would you choose to play you on screen? Brad Pitt.
Who’s the nicest guy on tour? Zabaleta.
And the nastiest? I can’t answer that – they’d kill me [laughs]!
What’s the best concert you’ve seen? Maná and Madonna. Who’s your sporting idol? Michael Jordan. What’s your favourite sport outside tennis? Football.
What’s your least favourite training exercise? Jogging.
Posted: 01.06.09 23:34. Post subject: J. DEL POTRO/J. Tson..
J. DEL POTRO/J. Tsonga
6‑1, 6‑7, 6‑1, 6‑4
An interview with:
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. What was the difference in this match?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't know. It was very close, every point, everygame. In the important moments he servebad, and I take his serve twice in the first and the third set, and in thefourth I broke him 4‑All. That was thekey to win today.
Q. You played so well on the U.S. summer circuit on hardcourts,and you handled the clay. Which do youprefer?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Hardcourts.
Q. Hardcourts?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yeah.
Q. But you have to play on clay here. With the wind blowing and the top dressing off, are they quite likehardcourts?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: These courts are so nice and arefast, so we can play a similar game than hardcourt.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. Wereyou surprised by Tsonga and his game? Did you think he would be more aggressive or not?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, I thought he would hit theball differently and he would have more moon balls.
Against Pico other day,this is what he did. I thought he wouldplay the same type of game. Butsometimes what was difficult was a head wind. When the wind was in your back he was dictating the game. He played a good match, though. And me too.
These two 6‑1, 6‑1 sets do not mirrorreality really well.
Q. Youwere never really been supported by the crowd, and he was not supportedeither. What about this?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, both of us were verynervous, you know. We were playing onthe central court. It was quite tough,but I decided to remain calm during the match, even though I lost the secondset.
So it was one set all,and I thought he had do his best to still improve. But he couldn't control his shots. He was not really at ease. He was not dictating at that moment duringthe match. I think perhaps his knee was hurting.
However, it was a pleasant day. The crowd is familiar with tennis. They're fans.
Q. Whatabout Nadal, who's been eliminated?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, that was something we wereall taken aback by for the players, for everybody. I suppose he's sad. He's probably going through difficult momentsright now.
He's a great player,and I'm certain he's still going to win more matches.
Q. Do you think the tournament is more open today?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, yes. Of course, there's Roger, there's Murray. They're excellent players, you know. Plus Robredo, who really is a specialist onclay.
But the favorite, Ithink "the" candidate for this tournament, is now off the courts.
Q. What did you feel when you were getting on the court and then during thematch and then when the match was over? What about your feelings on the central court? Is it something good or difficult?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, I enjoyed playing on thecentral court. This match was good forme. I was dictating everything, and thatwas in my favor if I can say.
But last year when Iplayed Murrayin Flushing Meadows. It was a greatmoment, as well. Many things havehappened during the year. We usuallyplay in very big stadiums with big crowds of people, so now I know how tomanage these situations.
Q. Now, about your match against Tsonga, what about the key moments duringthe match when there was a big turnaround?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, whenever you're playingbaseline, I thought I was really relaxed. That's why I thought his tactics were a bit weird. But it was quite windy. Wind is tough on this court, so it wasdifficult to have many slices or to have dropshots.
When he could returnthe balls he didn't put enough power in his shots, and that's when I couldchange the tournament.
Q. What about Tommy Robredo? Whatwould you like to say about him?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, this player is specializedon clay, and so far his season has been excellent. He was either the finalist or semifinalisteverywhere, and in all the quarterfinals for all the Grand Slam matches.
Q. What about this match against Robredo? Is it No. 5 the who's favorite, or the specialist on clay?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't think he's the favorite.
Q. Now, back to Robredo's match. What should you do so that he feelsuncomfortable? Because you say he's aspecialist on clay.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I should play my game. He really enjoys playing on thissurface. When he's here, he hasconfidence. He's now won a number ofmatches. I have my own weapons, and if Iuse my weapons, maybe I can win.
Q. I'd like to insist on this, if you don't mind. Those are your weapons. What about Tommy's weapons that could hurtyou? And also, I have another question. Are you not surprised to see almost like aveteran, someone who has no coach, someone who can still reach quarterfinals?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: He plays well on thissurface. He really plays well, so,no. He's reaching the quarterfinals of aGrand Slam even though for the time being he has no fixed coach. He has his physiotherapist and his father, aswell, and his fitness coach.
So with his father andall the team, he's got ‑‑ he's with a bunch of people who are familiarwith tennis. So that's not something Icould consider as an advantage for me.
Q. Back to this Nadal match, which was a big surprise to all of us. What happened? These were very short shots. Is it because Soderling played well?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, Soderling played well. A high level of tennis throughout the match,which is quite surprising. But thenafterwards you see, I think, too many short balls for Rafa. During the key moments, what was quitesurprising is that he wasn't clear‑sighted enough to overcome thesedifficulties.
But, you know, that'sthe match. That's a tournament. Yet another one. And as he said, now he's going to enjoy hisswimming pool, and we will have to be careful.
Q. I have a question which is different. The other day, Nadal complained a lot about the antidoping rules, andhis uncle even said that maybe the players could boycott the Olympics. Would you agree with this? What do you think about this?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't want to talk about this.
Q. Do you have the feeling that you play better and better during thistournament? It was probably your bestmatch.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Oh, I felt really good, that'strue. My serves were really good. I was really efficient with my firstservices, which is something essential.
But there are stillmany things I can improve. Like, forinstance, during the tiebreak, I lost a tiebreak because I made manymistakes. So I could improve this.
But I'm happy, though, because today Iwon. I defeated him.
Q. Thishas nothing to do with tennis. Do youstill go out to the same restaurants, the restaurants you would go to whenNadal was the champion?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I still go out there to theserestaurants, because it's really excellent where Franco goes, we go. (Franco).
Q. Nadal and Djokovic are now no longer in the tournament, and you haven'tgot a long experience here to win Roland Garros. What do you think about this? What about the draw? The draw is much more open. There are a few big players, and there isprobably more pressure on your shoulder now.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, I see things the other wayaround. From my side, I can tell youthat all the players are good, even Roger, who's on the second half of thebottom of the draw. Now I have to fightagainst Robredo. That's what I wasthinking about. That's going to bereally difficult. This is it.
Q. You've managed to climb up through the tournament, and last year you wonmatches. You reached quarterfinalsduring a Grand Slam. Do you think thatnow you're more consistent than before, or you're not consistent enough?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I'm still looking for thisconsistency. To go up in the draw I needto fight each match, and then I'll be able to climb rankings. In Australia it was against Federerand then Murray. These are verydifficult matches. That was for the USOpen, but I'm really happy so far with the tournament.
Q. Now, you're telling us that it's a difficult draw for you. On the other side of the draw, the otherLatin American is González. What abouthim?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: He played well. He's not yet dropped or lost any sets, andhe's still in the draw. I hope we'regoing to have a Latin American player reaching the finals.
Posted: 02.06.09 00:42. Post subject: Кто болел за Дель По..
Кто болел за Дель Потро, всех поздравляю Конечно, всё может случиться, но пока что у меня ощущение, что парень будет вторым грунтовым игроком после Надаля на протяжении ближайших лет
Posted: 04.06.09 09:07. Post subject: J. DEL POTRO/T. Robr..
J. DEL POTRO/T. Robredo
6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑2
An interview with:
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. You looked as if you were in control of the match right until the lastgame. Did you feel that way?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No. No, no, was so close into the court. I feel the nervous every point, every time. Tommy is a fighter, you know. He fight until the last point, even if he'slosing 5‑2, 40‑Love.
So it was very toughfor me to close the match.
Q. How do you feel about getting this far in a Grand Slam?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, very happy. It's my first semifinals in Grand Slam, soI'm very happy.
Q. You're going to face Federer in the semifinal. Quite a few players and tennis fans wouldlike Roger to win this tournament because it's the only Grand Slam he hasn'twon yet. Do you also feel that way, ifyou were to face him in the next round?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: We feel the pression of the fans,everybody want Roger to win this tournament. But if I can't do ‑‑ if I can't win this tournament, I want to seenext Sunday Roger with the trophy.
Q. You seem to have improved your game on clay. Since when have you been working with FrancoDavin, and what has he changed in your game on clay?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: A lot: My movement, my forehand, my serve. Now I can play like hardcourt. You know, the courts are faster than twoyears ago, so they game is very similar. This is an advantage for me.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.
Q. Tellus about your feelings. You're in thesemifinal of a Grand Slam. What goes onin your head?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, I'm really happy. I'm in a semifinal of a Grand Slam. This was a very tough match for both ofus. I mean, we knew that we hadopportunities.
The most important wasto win. The most important was to beable to make it to play Federer on Friday.
Q. You just said it was a match you didn't play at the top of yourshape. Why would you say that?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I think I played better againstTsonga. My serve was much better. Well, today my ‑‑ no, today my serve wasmuch better. That's true.
But I was very nervousall along the match, and I never managed to really get in the match because mylegs were really tense.
Maybe you couldn't see that from theoutside, but I was pretty tense. Tommyplayed really well. You know, threesets, that is not a good indication of what the match was, because he reallyplayed well. But I played better, so Iwon.
Q. Myquestion is: When you offered this T‑shirtto Federer, the Boca T‑shirt to Federer, was it a bet?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, no, of course, we have notyet reached the quarterfinals. It wasjust like that.
Q. Yesterday like today you had difficulties ending the match. Why?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, you're right. At one stage I had difficulties with myserve. We came to 40‑All, and that wasmy fault. I was too nervous. I wanted to finish it quickly, and the more Iwanted to do that, the worst I played.
I really wanted to rushthings. This was a mistake. I suffered from it. I managed to finish it 5‑2, because otherwiseit would have been far more difficult.
Q. What do you feel about this match against Federer on Friday?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: It's going to be verydifficult. We all know how he plays, andwe all know what he wants to achieve here now that Rafa is no longer here.
I still haveexpectations. I still haveobjectives. I had some before I startedplaying in this tournament, but now we have the same opportunities. I wish I win this match.
Q. You said that you had good memories, good feelings last time you playedFederer in Madrid. Would you say that you have an opportunity towin here, or are there things that you need to modify to change to adjust inyour game?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, in fact, in Madrid I had mychances. I had opportunities that Ididn't use. We also had other matches, oneagainst the other. But I know that if Iwant to win him, I have to be at the top of my form. I have to be there 100% mentally, physically.
I hope he's going tomake some mistakes like he did against Haas at 4‑3 in the third set and he hada break point. But in all cases, youneed to be very present and you need to get your opportunities when they occur.
Q. Two questions: What's the originof your name, Del Potro? Where does itcome from?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't have a clue.
Q. Where do your grandparents come from?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: From Tandil. That's the city where I come from.
Q. Second question: Your tacticsagainst Federer. Did you talk about itwith Franco?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No, no, we just said a few wordsafter the match. We'll have plenty oftime to talk about tactics tomorrow.
Q. Reaching the semifinals today, and no disrespect with regards to youropponent, but was it the most beautiful match or victory in your career?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No, I had others, other greatvictories. But it's true. I had never won a quarterfinals in a GrandSlam tournament, so that's true.
Now, with regards tovictories against great players, I already had other beautiful victories whichwere even more important to me.
Q. What worries you with Federer? His game or what he represents?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, a bit of everything. With his game he does everythingperfectly. His game is much of a problemto me, and this is why I never won when I played him.
We've played quite afew matches, so I know him. I think Iknow what he's going to do, and I'll do everything to return his serve. And also to make him doubt, not to give him anypoints.
Q. Apart from the difference in surface, with regards to the way youplayed, in Australia you played the first set, okay. And then in the rest of the match, whathappened? Did you feel that there werethings that you just couldn't improve and you just let go as compared totoday? What can you tell us?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, no, in Australia he played extremely well,and I couldn't do anything. Actually, atthe end of the match, he told me he played better than ‑‑ that it was hisbest match in a long time.
Now, if I can win afirst set, I can win a second set, and if I can win two sets, I can win a thirdset and win the match. So I can fight.
But then I also would like to have more fun,enjoy being there, have pleasure being in such a big court with such abeautiful crowd.
Q. Beforethe match, you talked about your consistency in the match, and you were talkingabout the fact that you had to make Tommy move around, so you have to have adifferent tactics.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, when you're on the outside,you have to see things differently. Actually, today I had to run a lot. I had to move a lot, and he had a beautiful serve.
At the same time, wehad many opportunities, both of us. Ithink that had he won the break during the third set, we'd still be on thecourt right now.
Q. You're talking about being nervous, about pressure. Do you think you'll be nervous when you playFederer? Do you think that's a keyfactor, that it might impact your game?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: You know what? We're all nervous. We're all a bit afraid, you know. That's quite normal when you have such bigplayers left in the draw. You know, allplayers know this feeling. I mean thisfeeling of being nervous.
When I play Roger,well, I have no choice, so I have to play my game. Otherwise I'll never achieve anything.
Q. I'd like to know if your friends, your family are in Paris to encourage you, to support you. Yes or no? And if no, will they be here in Parison Friday?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I came with Franco, Martiniano,yes, and other friends, but my family and my really close friends are inTandil. I think we'll wait for a anothercouple of days before they come.
Q. I saw you having this gesture, emotional gesture at the end of thematch. Is it because of what youachieved? I don't know, but each timeyou win, you do the same thing. You havethis finger raised to the skies. Is it amessage to someone?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes. It has to do with my family. It's for my family. Yes, I was very emotional. It's my first semifinal, and I was verynervous all along the match, at least more than usually, and this is why Ipointed my finger to the heavens.
Post №: 1409
Joined: 24.03.09
Location: Россия, Ногинск
Rank:
6
Posted: 04.06.09 10:35. Post subject: Хуан Мартин Дель Пот..
Хуан Мартин Дель Потро: «В игре с Роджером я должен показать свой лучший теннис, у меня нет другого выбора» Аргенинец Хуан Мартин Дель Потро, обыгравший в четвертьфинале «Ролан Гаррос» испанца Томми Робредо со счетом 6:3, 6:4, 6:2, заявил, что для того, чтобы обыграть Роджера Федерера в полуфинале, он должен показать свой лучший теннис. «Мы все тут нервничаем, мы все очень волнуемся перед игрой. И это нормально, когда в сетке остались такие большие игроки. Все игроки испытывают это чувство, я имею в виду сильное волнение. В игре с Роджером я должен показать свой лучший теннис, у меня нет другого выбора. Иначе я ничего не добьюсь», – цитирует Дель Потро официальный сайт турнира.
Posted: 06.06.09 09:03. Post subject: R. FEDERER/J. Del Po..
R. FEDERER/J. Del Potro
3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
An interview with:
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. (From translation.) It's maybe alittle bit early, but how are you going to use that match for your future? You are only 20 years old, and you've had agreat resistance today.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: For the time being, it's verytough. It's very difficult for me toanalyze the match for the time being, because I'm very sad.
But I guess in about acouple of days, once I'm more relaxed, I'll be able to think about it.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. First question is just in general, how do you feel right now? And the second question is, in Australia,seemed like you didn't have any answers to Roger's shots, but this time youplayed really well against him. So didyou find any answers, or could you explain about that?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, now I feel so sad. It was a long match, very close. It was my first semis, and I had thechance. I think I'm playing better than Australia,we play on other surface, and I serve very good every moment in the match. That was the reason about the five sets.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.
Q. Iimagine you can't be happy, of course. But at least you can feel satisfied you fought so well against Federer.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, but I really wanted to be inthat final, and now I'm going to have to watch it on TV. That match was very tied, very even. I really had chances of winning.
If it had been in thebest of three sets, I would have won and I would have come out of that courtsatisfied.
Right now, I don't have enough words toexplain what I feel. I just ‑‑ thatmatch escaped me.
Q. Whatdid you say to each other at the end of the match? Also, what happened in the third set?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, I felt I could break hisserve and win the match maybe. Butduring the fourth and fifth set he served very well, too. It was very even, and I made a couple ofmistakes that I had to pay very dearly.
At the end, well, Ijust congratulated him and wished him good luck. I said, Everybody wants him to lift thetrophy at the end of the match. But onceagain, it was not going to be me.
Q. What happened in the last two sets? Were you a bit tired? And second,did the crowd bother you, especially in the tiebreaker, because five shots youmade ended up in the net?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No, I had to keep my reserves inorder to play that fifth set.
As to the crowd, I washappy to see that the crowd was enjoying the match. Anyway, the Argentineans and the French crowdtreated me well. It was a new feelingfor me.
I hope one day I would be the idol for thecrowd the way Roger was today.
Q. Didyou feel that this was the match of your life? I'm not talking only about tennis, I'm talking about everything, aboutyour opponent, et cetera.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, I understand the situation,the moment. Well, for me, it was thestrongest moment I ever lived until now against Roger, knowing he really wantedto win and I was so close to win him. Itwas very special to me.
Q. I guess you're a bit bitter, but you played your best tennis and you'restill very young. You have a lot ofpossibilities.
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, but the fact that I'm youngdoesn't mean anything to me. I just feelbad.
I know it was a greatmatch. We were both fighting at ourbest, and I believe really the crowd enjoyed it, too. I was very happy to see the crowd so happy,and I saw the Argentineans were behind me until the end.
Q. Did you feel tired at the end? Did you feel good?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: At 3‑All, I was ready to play aslong as was needed.
Q. When you broke back in the fifth, did you believe you had it?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: No, because he was returning alot better. In two seconds I was downLove‑40, and I knew that it didn't mean anything against players like Roger orRafa. They give nothing away, and...
Q. In those crucial points where Roger was defending, what was so difficultto control the game at those moments?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Well, this is what the bestplayers can do. They can control thosepoints. They have this inside of them,and they come out with the best at the crucial moments.
This is something thatthey inherited from birth, I guess.
Q. We can see you feel bad. Isn'tthat proof of your strong personality?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: Yes, maybe. I went into the court wanting to enjoy mysemifinal, and I did it well. It's notthat I was tense or that I couldn't play my game.
So I'm happy, because Iplayed at the same level as he did, and I played well. I won that first set, and then it was 1‑All. It was very close.
Q. You spoke with Franco Davin in the locker rooms. What did he say?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: We almost didn't talk atall. He said I played a good tournamentand I played a good match. That's all.
Q. You served very well during the whole match, but at 3‑All in the fifthyou were not able to put in one single first serve. What happened?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't know. It was the whole match that fell upon myshoulders. I was feeling tired andtense. That's why I didn't put thosefirst serves in.
Otherwise, I servedwell during the whole match. It's justat that particular moment, I could have served a bit better.
Q. How are you going to prepare for Wimbledon?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I don't know. I don't know.
Q. The week before, are you going to play an exhibition?
JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO: I'm going to go a couple of daysearly. I'm going to play an exhibition,and I'm going to prepare for Wimbledon.
Posted: 03.08.12 21:55. Post subject: Olympics: Federer d...
Olympics: Federer d. del Potro
08/03/2012 - 12:39 PM
It took four hours and 26 minutes, but Roger Federer is now guaranteed a singles medal at the London Olympics after defeating Juan Martin del Potro, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in the semifinals.
Neither Argentina nor Switzerland have won a medal so far at these Games and the pressure visibly told on both men but in the end, Federer’s serve and defense won out over del Potro’s firepower and heart. In windy conditions, del Potro — competing in his first Olympics on his least favorite surface, against a man who has beaten him 5 times this year alone — played a sublime first set, dictating from inside the baseline, reading Federer’s serve and finishing points off at the net, demonstrating how significantly he has quietly improved on the grass. He had chances to press that advantage in the second set, but Federer — down break points at 2-2 and 4-4 — produced aces and unplayable first serves in his signature style to keep himself in the match. As the quality of play dropped, the momentum shifted in Federer’s favor and he led the second set tie break from the start, taking it 7-5 with an ace after del Potro put a routine backhand long to give up the mini break.
A devastated del Potro cradled his towel-wrapped head in his hands on the changeover, but regrouped strongly and it was Federer who failed to press his advantage early in the third, having to save break points at 0-1. The combination led to the marathon third set which broke Olympic and Open-era records as neither man could break serve. Del Potro was in the more precarious position throughout as Federer continued to serve brilliantly; the Argentine had to save break points at 3-3, then 4-4, then 7-7, his struggles punctuated by love or routine holds from Federer. At 8-8, only a diving stab volley winner saved del Potro from being 0-40 down and at 9-9, he double-faulted twice before two backhand errors gave Federer the break.
Remarkably, however, del Potro regrouped for a clean, aggressive game and it was Federer’s turn to make two backhand errors to be broken back to love. Serving from behind, Federer continued to come up with impenetrable service holds and unplayable deliveries, successfully holding to stay in the match 12 times and looking increasingly the fresher player both physically and mentally. It was a remarkable display with his back against the wall and although del Potro came back from 0-40 to hold at 14-14, then 0-30 at 15-15, something had to give and it was clearly not going to be Federer’s serve. Breaking after a long backhand from del Potro, Federer served for the match for the second time an hour after his first opportunity and this time, despite a double fault and a flubbed volley on his first match point, he would not be denied.
Del Potro will have to somehow pick himself up, after yet another crushing defeat in which he gave his all and fell short, to play for a bronze medal. Federer meanwhile has a day to recover before the final against either Djokovic or Murray, both men he beat on Centre Court a few weeks ago. That gold medal must feel very close now.
Posted: 05.08.12 14:25. Post subject: и отложен матч, наве..
и отложен матч, наверное, надолго - судя по картинке с марафона, небо в беспросветном дожде... может, поставят 4-м матчем на центральный корт? или уже завтра...
Posted: 07.08.12 16:38. Post subject: Tatiana, привет! Поз..
Tatiana, привет! Поздравляю с бронзой нас! Я долго не могла понять, что происходит, пока вчера не нашла твое сообщение :) Очень порадовал Хуан Мартин, сумел таки выиграть медаль. Читая, его вью, в котором он говорил, что мечтает выиграть медаль, думала, эх... останется это у тебя только мечтой, но не тут-то было. Выиграл :) Жаль , что проиграли битву в полуфинале... Перед матчем с Новаком была четкая уверенность, что он выиграет, даже не волновалась :) Что-то не понятно, что там с Торонто, ходят слухи, что снимется с турнира, но пока оф. подтверждения не нашла.
Posted: 07.08.12 17:49. Post subject: aliya супер! хорошо..
aliya супер! хорошо, что вы "нашлись". наш админ только вернулась из отпуска, сейчас занимается решением проблем основной площадки. так что пока можно здесь "пожить".
Posted: 07.08.12 17:53. Post subject: aliya да, по ДП вид..
aliya да, по ДП видно было, что счастлив по-настоящему. все-таки медаль Олимпиады - это особенная вещь. молодец! в 1/2 чуток не хватило, ну что ж... надеюсь, случай еще представится!
Posted: 11.02.13 18:19. Post subject: Del Potro and Haase..
Del Potro and Haase on Tuesday We can confirm that Robin Haase, who in recent days in Zagreb proved to be in an excellent shape, will play on Tuesday against Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis.
On Tuesday at 19.30 PM, the showdown between Juan Martin del Potro, the number two seed, and Gael Monfils will take place. A thrilling first round match. "It will get hard for both of us", the almost two-meter-long South American thinks. "It’s a far from easy first round draw, but if I want to win the tournament, I will have to beat all the players."
Posted: 13.02.13 17:58. Post subject: Del Potro delivers a..
Del Potro delivers against Monfils
With a strong match against Gaël Monfils, Juan Martin de Potro underlined his role as one of the favourites for the title in the 40th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. In a exciting game, the Argentinean only needed just over seventy minutes to outplay the Frenchman. With 6-3, 6-4 Del Potro progressed to the second round, where he will Ernests Gulbis, who defeated of Robin Haase. Monfils sometimes seems to be made of rubber, so nimble he was. He regularly made balls that looked out of reach. One of the highlights of the match was a winning point in the second set. The Frenchman reached for a lob that almost hit the ground for the second time and succeeded narrowly his mission. He slammed the ball back over the net, forcing Del Potro to make a mistake. The audience in Ahoy Rotterdam loved it and rewarded Monfils with a thunderous applause.
Unfortunately for the Frenchman, who just returned to the tour after a lengthy injury, he wasn’t steady enough to seriously threaten last year’s finalist.
Posted: 13.02.13 23:11. Post subject: ABN AMRO World Tenni..
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Rotterdam, The Netherlands
SCHEDULE - THURSDAY, 14 FEBRUARY, 2013
Centre Court Start 11:00 am [Q] Matthias Bachinger (GER) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v [4] Richard Gasquet (FRA) [Q] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v [2] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [3] Robert Lindstedt (SWE)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Colin Fleming (GBR)/Jonathan Marray (GBR)
Posted: 15.02.13 23:42. Post subject: ABN AMRO World Tenni..
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Rotterdam, The Netherlands
SCHEDULE - SATURDAY, 16 FEBRUARY, 2013
Centre Court Start 2:00 pm Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v [2] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [1] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP) v [3] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)
Not Before 7:30 PM Julien Benneteau (FRA) v Martin Klizan (SVK) OR Gilles Simon (FRA) [4] Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) v [WC] Thiemo de Bakker (NED) / Jesse Huta Galung (NED)
Posted: 16.02.13 21:04. Post subject: выиграл спокойно и у..
выиграл спокойно и уверенно. хотя Димитров и создавал проблемы, особенно в первом сете. вот так было и на АО - уверенно и спокойно, и вдруг - бац, и отлетел от незнамо кого...
Posted: 16.02.13 21:08. Post subject: Del Potro has hands ..
Del Potro has hands full with Gulbis
It took the second-seeded Argentinean one and a half hour, he is in the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Juan Manuel Del Potro, last year a finalist in Ahoy Rotterdam, defeated qualifier Ernests Gulbis in 7-6 (5), 6-3. In the opening set there was no real difference between both players. Both relied on their service. Only Gulbis had to eliminate one breakpoint. Eventually a tiebreak had to bring the decision. Again it was close, but Del Potro only needed one set point to take the set.
In the beginning of the second, Gulbis (24) worked away four break points. After four aces in a row he even won the game. In the seventh game Del Potro had two eliminate two breakpoints. Del Potro’s break in the eight game was decisive for match. "It was a real battle", Del Potro concluded. "I played well, but had a hard time."
The Rotterdam debutant Ernests Gulbis is on his way back to the top of the ATP-ranking. The Latvian is now 132nd of the world, but once, two years ago, he was 23rd. "I think Gulbis will be in the top twenty soon", Del Potro complimented his opponent. "I’ve known him for quite a while now, because we are both 24 years old, but he’s a talented player and I'm sure he will return to the top.”
Posted: 16.02.13 21:09. Post subject: Del Potro via Niemin..
Del Potro via Nieminen to semi-final
To make tall men mobile. Back in the days it was Joop Alberda ‘s task. The volleyball coach leaded the Dutch national team in 1996 to gold at the Olympics in Atlanta. Alberda, a regular guest at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, will have watched Juan Martin del Potro’s game against Jarrko NIeminen with joy. The Argentinean, almost two meters, moves exceptionally well for a long player. At least much better than other giants like John Isner and Ivo Karlovic. Partly because of that Delpo is in the top tien and the others not.
Since a while Del Potro is trying to add an additional element to his game. He now often comes to the net, where he is hard to pass. With his long arms he’s almost as big as an adult condor. Jarkko Nieminen wasn’t able to handle Del Potro’s game plan in their quarter final: 6-3, 6-4. In the semi-final the Argentinean will play young talent Grigor Dimitrov.
The victory of Del Potro wasn’t a surprise. He won all five his previous matches against Nieminen, But never before he had to work so hard for a victory. The match was characterized by long and often spectacular rallies.
At decisive moments the second-placed South American used his hard service and ditto forehand, to break through the solid defence of the left-handed Nieminen. "He continued to fight until the end", a unsatisfied Del Potro stated afterwards. "If I want to win this tournament, I will need to step up my game."
Posted: 16.02.13 21:10. Post subject: Del Potro in final w..
Del Potro in final without losing a set
With impressive tennis Juan Martin del Potro has for the second time in a row reached the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. After the semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov, he still hasn’t lost a set or a service game. It makes the Argentinean favourite to win the title of the 40th edition. In one hour and fifteen minutes the 24-year-old Del Potro defeated the three years younger Dimitrov: 6-4, 6-4. A break in each set was enough to secure the win. Only in the sixth game of the first set the tall Argentinean had to disarm two breakpoints. The first one he denied with a thunderous forehand winner, the second with a well-placed backhand.
The match was an example of modern tennis. Both players literally bombarded each other from the baseline with deafening blows. It was nice to see how Dimitrov with his classic, one-handed backhand dared to take on Del Potro’s sledgehammer forehand. In many ways Dimitrov can be compared to Roger Federer. It’s only a matter of time until the Bulgarian will, just like his example, be a regular force in decisive phases of tournaments. “I can see him become number one in the future", Del Potro said admiringly.
The Tower of Tandil himself has already won thirteen tournaments, including the U.S. Open. In Ahoy Rotterdam he will on Sunday play his nineteenth final. Against a Frenchman, that’s for sure. Tonight Julien Benneteau and Gilles Simon fight for the last final spot.
Posted: 17.02.13 20:12. Post subject: хорошая победа, увер..
хорошая победа, уверенная, на классе - должен был и сделал. и если я правильно посчитала, то Дельпо приблизится в рейтинге к Томашу на расстояние 75 очков. Томаш не стал защищать полуфинальные очки в Роттердаме, а наш парень прибавил к очкам за финал еще 200 очков за победу. с понедельника у Дельпо должно быть 4410 очков, у Томаша - 4485.
на следующей неделе оба собираются играть в Марселе (турнир 250), они там 1-й и 2-й сеянные. в первом круге Дельпо свободен, во втором играть с победителем пары Llodra - Goffin.
нашему результат в Марселе очков не прибавит - он там выиграл в прошлом году. но и потерять в случае раннего поражения или снятия вроде не должен - у него есть "лишняя" победа в Вене на 250 очков). Бердич же в Марселе может добавить до 160 очков. как трудно подняться хотя бы еще на одну строчку... интересно будет свериться с оф. цифрами.
Posted: 17.02.13 22:30. Post subject: ABN AMRO WORLD TENNI..
ABN AMRO WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2013 Del Potro Denies Benneteau To Win 14th Title Rotterdam, The Netherlands by ATP Staff 17.02.2013
World No. 7 Juan Martin del Potro captured his 14th tour-level title on Sunday as he inflicted yet more ATP World Tour final heartache on Julien Benneteau in Rotterdam. The Argentine dealt Benneteau his eighth defeat in as many finals with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
The 24-year-old del Potro had finished runner-up at this ATP World Tour 500 indoor tournament last year (l. to Federer) and defeated Benneteau in one hour and 37 minutes to go one better. As victor, del Potro received 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and ?305,000 in prize money. He is the second Argentine to triumph in Rotterdam, following Guillermo Vilas in 1982.
Del Potro can count the 2009 US Open trophy among his collection. He won four titles last year, three of those indoors. The Tandil native improved to a 14-5 record in tour-level finals. He has a 67-32 record indoors (4-3 in finals).
The second-seeded Del Potro had not dropped serve in four matches this week, holding all 40 service games and saving the nine break points he had faced. That run came to an end instantly against Benneteau as the Frenchman broke for an early 2-0 lead in the final.
Del Potro quickly hit his stride and reeled off four straight games, but Benneteau fought back in the 10th game to break the Argentine and force a tie-break. Del Potro withstood the Frenchman’s challenge to take the first set in the tie-break and carried his momentum into the second set with an early service break to lead 3-0.
Benneteau rallied hard, but the biggest problem del Potro faced in the second set was an untimely nose bleed. Having missed four match points on Benneteau’s serve in the eighth game, del Potro needed a short break with medical assistance to stem his nose bleed, and was forced to serve out the match with a cotton wool plug. Undeterred, he closed out the victory with a love service game.
The 31-year-old Benneteau had stunned top seed and defending champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, recording his 200th tour-level win, before ousting fifth-seeded countryman Gilles Simon in the semi-finals. The Frenchman has a 10-5 record on the season, having also reached the Apia International Sydney semi-finals (l. to Anderson) and the quarter-finals last week at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier (l. to Gasquet).
Posted: 18.02.13 23:09. Post subject: Del Potro rightful w..
Del Potro rightful winner of anniversary edition
When you host an anniversary edition you hope for a big winner. Juan Martin del Potro is literally a big winner. The almost two meter long Argentinean is the only player outside the top four who in the past eight years won a Grand Slam tournament. In the final of the 40th edition of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament he defeated Julien Benneteau: 7-6 (2), 6-3.
The name of Del Potro can proudly be painted on the gallery of champions on the first ring in Ahoy Rotterdam. The winner of the U.S. Open 2009, now number seven of the world, is the first Argentinean player to win the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament after legendary Guillermo Vilas did so in 1982.
In the matches leading up to the final Del Potro wasn’t broken and eliminated nine breakpoints, but in Sunday’s match that record didn’t hold long. In the second game Benneteau, who in the quarter-final knocked crowd favourite Roger Federer out of the tournament, seized his first break opportunity. Del Potro recovered immediately and also took a break on the Frenchman.
Benneteau, who played smart and good, refused to surrender and fought back to 5-5. In the tiebreak he played a few unlucky points and Del Potro made him pay immediately. After winning the first set the Argentinean quickly took a 5-2 lead, but forget to utilize three match points. After Del Potro dealt with a spontaneous nosebleed he finished off the job in his own service game.
With his 24 years, his sledgehammer forehand, his fierce full service and his - for a tall player - excellent footwork, Del Potro is the number one candidate to launch an attack on the top four players of the world: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Hopefully he will return Rotterdam many more times in the future.
Posted: 18.02.13 23:10. Post subject: Del Potro: I’m so gl..
Del Potro: I’m so glad I won.
His title in the 40th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament was the fourteenth in Juan Martin Del Potro’s career. In his nineteenth final the Argentinean number seven of the world defeated Frenchman Julien Benneteau: 7-6, 6-3. "I cannot believe I’ve won", the Tower of Tandil stammered during his final press conference. "I'm so happy. Before I came to Rotterdam, I saw all the big names on the participants list. I did not dare to think that I would leave with the title, but I've played well from the first round. And that was really necessary."
Del Potro, who in the final for the first time this tournament lost a service game, praised his opponent. "Julien was giving me a hard time. He had an excellent game plan, played every point aggressive and continued fighting until the end. He made me do a lot of running and I don’t like that. Benneteau earned to play this final."
After Michael Llodra in 2008 and Nicolas Escude in 2001 and 2002, Benneteau could have been the fourth unplaced winner in Ahoy Rotterdam. He delivered against a resilient Del Potro, but could not really push through. In the tie-break it went wrong. "It cost me so much energy to keep up. In almost all of my service games Del Potro got break points. Given the intensity of the game it was very difficult to stay fresh. In the tie-break I gave away some points too easy."
Although Benneteau after eight finals is still waiting for his first title, the 31-year-old Frenchman looked back on an excellent tournament. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Federer and in the semis Gilles Simon. This shows that there is a future for older players in the ATP World Tour. "I still get better every year", Bennteau said. "Tennis is now more physical than before.”
Posted: 20.02.13 23:34. Post subject: H2H Juan Martin Del ..
H2H Juan Martin Del Potro vs Michael Llodra 4-1
2012 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris France Hard R16 Llodra, Michael 6-4, 6-3 2012 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy Clay R64 Del Potro, Juan Martin 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 2012 Marseille France Hard F Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-4, 6-4 2012 Rotterdam The Netherlands Hard R32 Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 2009 Roland Garros France Clay R128 Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Posted: 05.03.13 12:46. Post subject: я бы не делала никак..
я бы не делала никаких далеко идущих и заходящих выводов из этого матча и результата. оба размялись, играли без напряга и для публики. Дельпо уже вполне адаптирован к харду, Рафа провел свой первый матч на харде за много месяцев. все получилось хорошо и ко всеобщему удовольствию. а результаты и смысл их я бы проанализировала на кортах Indian Wells.
Posted: 10.03.13 21:02. Post subject: BNP Paribas Open Ind..
BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, U.S.A.
SCHEDULE - SUNDAY, 10 MARCH, 2013
STADIUM 2 start 11:00 am [6] S Errani (ITA) vs J Larsson (SWE) - WTA [12] M Cilic (CRO) vs A Ramos (ESP) - ATP N Davydenko (RUS) vs [7] J Del Potro (ARG) - ATP
Posted: 12.03.13 16:16. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN Ind..
BNP PARIBAS OPEN Indian Wells, CA, USA
SCHEDULE - TUESDAY, 12 MARCH, 2013
STADIUM 2 start 11:00 am [6] S Errani (ITA) vs [9] M Bartoli (FRA) - WTA [23] S Querrey (USA) vs M Matosevic (AUS) - ATP C Berlocq (ARG) vs [16] K Nishikori (JPN) - ATP B Phau (GER) vs [7] J Del Potro (ARG) - ATP [1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs L Kubot (POL) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) - ATP A Peya (AUT) / B Soares (BRA) vs [2] M Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) - ATP
Posted: 13.03.13 14:28. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN Ind..
BNP PARIBAS OPEN Indian Wells, CA, USA
SCHEDULE - WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH, 2013
Stadium 2 Start 11:00 am Treat Huey (PHI) / Jerzy Janowicz (POL) v [WC] James Blake (USA) / Mardy Fish (USA) [17] Milos Raonic (CAN) v [8] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v [10] Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Not Before 5:00 PM [3] Andy Murray (GBR) v Carlos Berlocq (ARG) [19] Tommy Haas (GER) v [7] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
Posted: 13.03.13 19:02. Post subject: H2H Juan Martin Del ..
H2H Juan Martin Del Potro vs Tommy Haas 3-0
2012 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati OH, U.S.A. Hard R32 Del Potro, Juan Martin 7-5, 6-2 2011 Vienna Austria Hard Q Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-2, 6-4 2008 Washington DC, USA Hard S Del Potro, Juan Martin 6-2, 6-1
Posted: 14.03.13 22:56. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN IND..
BNP PARIBAS OPEN INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA
March 13, 2013
Juan Martin Del Potro
J. MARTIN DEL POTRO/T. Haas 6‑1, 6‑2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. That looked like a particularly good performance today. One of your best for a little while, maybe? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah, I think it was my best match of the tournament, for sure. I played so solid on the baseline, trying to hit hard the ball with my forehand. I served well, and that's what I need to play against Murray in the next round. Be aggressive all the time and find the lines with my forehands and serves.
Q. What would you say your form is like at the moment? Not just today, but... JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I'm still having some feelings on my wrist, but nothing dangerous. I have tomorrow to recover it, to do my treatments, and then be ready for Friday. If I'm still going in this way, improving a little day by day, maybe I will be in good form on Friday.
Q. Talk a little about playing Andy and that matchup. You have had a few interesting matches in the past. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, of course. Well, now we are much older and ‑‑
Q. Wiser? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: ‑‑and smart and we are friends and we have good relationship and we share many things together. Of course play against him is a big challenge for me. He already won the US Open last year, made finals in Australia, and he's doing very fantastic career beating the top guys and fighting for the first position, as well. So it's gonna be interesting match for me.
Q. What are your thoughts on the new Pope from Argentina? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, we are so proud of him. He's the first Pope from South America, I think. He's so big for our own country, also. I wish all the best to him. I think he's gonna do his work perfect. I wish the best for him. And I'm very Catholic, so I like this new decision.
Q. You've been to Rome obviously, the tournament there. Have you been to the Vatican? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah. Maybe I will have the chance to meet him in Rome if Nicola do his job. (Laughter.) Q.Can you talk about the role that religion or your faith plays in your performance? Do you rely on faith to get you through tough situations, or how does it factor in? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: About what?
Q. Your faith? Do you use your faith to help you through tough situations on court or off court? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I'm trying to be calm all the time thinking be positive all the time, and that's help me to play my best tennis in the worstest moment, you know. Today I think I play really well, but yesterday I had a few moments really bad for when I was serving, and I need to be calm and positive all the time. That things make the difference between the top guys and the rest of the players.
Q. Do you know Pope Francis at all? Are you familiar with him? He seemed to have a tremendous warmth and intelligence. Have you ever had any encounters with him or do you know of him? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I don't understand what you mean.
Q. The new Pope. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah. About the new Pope? Yeah, what I say. Maybe I will have the chance to meet him in Rome. I don't know what can I say about this. For me and for our country and for Argentinian people, it's so big. Was so impressive for us when they mentioned the new Pope and also his name. I think he deserve to be there, so it's very nice for us.
Q. Do you follow women's tennis in Argentina? Because in Fed Cup Britain is playing Argentina in April. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, well, they follow a lot Gisela Dulko, but she retired.
Q. You don't know the next ones too much? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I think Ormaechea is doing well.
Q. She won a title, I think. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: First title weeks ago. She has a good future. I know her coach. I know her also, and she's very nice. She plays well on clay courts, and the clay court is coming soon, so maybe she can do big jump.
Q. A lot of singles players have started to play more and more doubles. Can you talk about your decision not to play doubles as much and what goes into that decision? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I like to play doubles, but in the biggest tournament is not easy if your goal is go far in singles, you know. I was trying to play doubles in Rotterdam, but Llodra pulled out for injuries; and here I don't like to play because I want to be focused on my singles. And Miami, if I play there and I go bad in singles, I want to have a few days for rest after that tournament before the clay season. So it's not easy take a good tournament to play doubles. But in the past I play a lot with Mardy Fish and other guys. I like to play doubles, and the next tournament, if I find a good tournament, I will be playing.
Posted: 17.03.13 22:03. Post subject: Juan Martin del Potr..
Juan Martin del Potro Press Conference Indian Wells, USA 15.03.2013
J. DEL POTRO/A. Murray 6-7, 6-3, 6-1
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You beat for the first time Andy Murray on hard court. That's a big win, obviously. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, of course. I was close to beat him in 2009 in Montreal finals, but I did today. I played my best match of the tournament. I was positive all the time, even when I lost the first set, tough first set. But in the end, I play my game. I be aggressive all the time, I'm hitting all the time hard the ball with my forehands, and I play a few slices as well and dropshots. I think I did a very good game today.
Q. What keeps you positive in this match? You played well against Haas. Is it confidence from past matches? Is it the Pope? (Laughter.) JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I don't know what happened, but I think I improve in my game match by match. Against Tommy Haas I play well, but today I played better. On basically the second set and the third set I was serving really, really well, and that's what I need for big confidence with my forehands and the rest of my game. Of course beating Murray or the top guys is something special for me, and I'm so glad.
Q. You're very powerful, but you were playing steady, very consistent throughout the match, no? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I think I played very solid. Trying to make winners when I had the chance with my forehands. I was calm every time and playing slices, trying to see very clearly the ball when I had the ball in my forehands to do the winners, and I save a few break points. That was important for me to still up in the match. In the end, I think I play my best tennis of the week.
Q. You said you were using your slice quite a bit. Was that tactical against Murray, or is your wrist okay? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, both, both things. I use it because my coach told me that, and thanks to him, you know. But tomorrow against Nole I will need to play better than today. I remember the match in Dubai I was close to win the second set, but he takes all the chances to beat me. He's the No. 1. You never know if he give to you a little chance to win, you know.
Q. I know it was a different surface and it was a different time, but how much will you take away from the Olympic bronze medal match when you played Novak? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, that match was very special for me. Then we play in Cincinnati, in the US Open, and Dubai, and he beat me all the time. But I think that the most important matches I beat him, for sure. But all matches are close with him. He already beat me in Dubai in two sets, very close two sets. Tomorrow I need to play better than today. Basically if I have a very close match like the first set as today, they don't give us opportunities. So we need to be very focused on that chances and trying to take.
Q. You had that fabulous win in New York and then the terrible injury. Could you just talk about this time that you have been back on the tour now where you have had many great wins but not another huge breakthrough. Could you just talk about your feelings about this period of your career? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I'm feeling so happy to be playing tennis again, and I think I go through another big moment in my career when I got the bronze medal. I don't know if it's big like win a Grand Slam, but for me and for my country and for myself, for my game, was too big, as well. I'm in the semifinals in a big tournament. Last year I made semis in Masters in London. I beat Roger. I beat Djokovic after my comeback in the Davis Cup. I think I am fit, and that's important for me, for myself. But I'm doing very good career.
Q. Physically how are you feeling? How is your wrist? 100%? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I'm okay. I'm getting closer to be 100%.
Q. Are you going to be seeking an audience with the Pope? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah. Well, what I say before, Nicola, he's doing the job to meet him in Rome, maybe. (Laughing.) THE MODERATOR: (Pretending to text Pope Francis.) (Laughter.)
Q. Did you do any change with the two handed backhand because of the wrist? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I'm trying to not change anything, but sometimes when I feel something I play slices or different way of my backhand. But I'm trying to don't change a lot, because when I get the okay my wrist, I will need to hit my backhand as I hit before. If I change my tennis it will be worse for me.
Q. You had some bad luck with the challenges early on. Have you ever run out of challenges that early in a set before? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, I think it's my first time. I don't know what's happen, but the umpire and the linesman, they show perfect and it was my mistakes. It's not easy play without challenge, you know. You feel like nervous all the time and you have to trust in the umpire all the time. You cannot do nothing. But I had luck to close the match in the last game when he's double fault, and also he didn't ask for the challenge so was good.
Q. When you miss that many, is it ever funny to you or just frustrating? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, it's frustrating, for sure. Yeah.
Posted: 17.03.13 22:05. Post subject: BNP PARIBAS OPEN IND..
BNP PARIBAS OPEN INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA March 16, 2013
Juan Martin Del Potro
J. DEL POTRO/N. Djokovic 4‑6, 6‑4, 6‑4
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What was on your mind when you were down 3‑Love in the third set? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: (Shaking head.) I don't know. Nothing, just keep fighting and enjoying the semifinals. I was doing a very good match until the third set, but Novak had the chance to beat me when I was 3‑Love. But I come back soon, and that give me a little confidence to come back in that set. Then also the crowd want to watch more tennis and help me to play my best tennis in the end, and I think it was my best match in this tournament, for sure.
Q. You also came back from losing the first set against Murray yesterday. Looking back at that, did that memory help you come back today? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, no, I never think about my yesterday match. Djokovic is completely different player. He's the No. 1 and always is a big challenge against him. I was so close to lose because he got the chance to beat me, but I think I got lucky in very important moments, very important points when I made a fantastic winners on my forehands. Also good aces, and that's help me to go through.
Q. Did the time violation actually make you concentrate a little more? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I was expecting the time violation.
Q. You were? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, because I took too much time before the last point. But Mohammed told me before, so...
Q. So you knew it was coming? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah, I knew. So this time it was okay.
Q. Your backhand slice was particularly good. You used it yesterday and you used it today. Can you talk about that shot and how effective it was for you? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I use it a lot, because that help me to play more aggressive with my forehand and trying to do different things. That help me to beat Murray yesterday; today Nole. I don't know if I'm going to use tomorrow against Rafa because he's lefty and he move really, really fast in the baseline. But what I know about him is playing more aggressive than today, trying to make a few winners with my forehands, coming a lot to the net, and I need to serve well also.
Q. What allowed you to turn the match around? What was the point that you felt helped you turn it? Was it the crowd? Was it you? Novak said he felt he didn't deserve to win the match even at that stage. What do you think was... JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I think was really close match. I go 3‑Love down, and then I was close to go to 4‑3 and playing very good tennis. Nole also was playing well, but I think I was aggressive all the time. He couldn't do what he likes like in Dubai, you know, and that was because of my game, you know. I'm trying to hit hard with my forehands. When I have the chance to come to the net, I did all the time. And on my serve, I was just focus to put it in my first serve and move to my forehands, trying to make winners.
Q. How are you feeling physically? It was a pretty demanding three‑set match against Murray. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, also the weather was...
Q. And then tomorrow. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: The weather was really, really hot for both. But I have the night for recovery. I would like to enjoy the finals, for sure and then be ready. He's a big challenge for me also, but I know I'm going to play against Rafa. He will win want to win this tournament, for sure, and it's going to be very interesting match.
Q. With these back‑to‑back wins over Murray and Djokovic now, do you buy this notion at all? People are talking about the Pope a lot, obviously and about Messi obviously and this being a year for Argentina. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: You think it's about the Pope?
Q. Do you feel there is some good energy around Argentina maybe helping you? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: (Smiling.) I don't know. I don't know why or‑‑ but, yeah, you can say what you like because the Pope has come in and then I beat Murray, Djokovic. Could be something, but I don't think so. I talk a lot about the Pope yesterday and the days ago. I would like to enjoy my moment, the finals tomorrow, and then I will need be ready for tomorrow.
Q. Do you think you are closer to your level of 2009? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Four years ago, I don't remember. (Smiling.) But I am playing well. The results show my level, and of course I feel some things to improve on my game like I am doing here, using the slices. Also would like to come more often to the net. But I'm working on that. Every tournament is a chance to do it. I think I'm doing well here in Indian Wells.
Q. Did the fact that the final part of the matches both yesterday and today were played in the shade when the court was already in the shade ‑ because you looked quite tired on 3‑2 and played really long rallies ‑ and then you had a lot of energy to come in with your forehand? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, of course. Change a lot when the shadows come and cover all the court, you know. But was in the end. Only the last game was completely covered. But tomorrow is gonna be early the final, and I'm going to see the shadow, for sure.
Q. What do you have to do tomorrow to win? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Everything perfect. (Smiling.) Everything perfect. It's the final against Rafa. For sure I need to play better and better every day. All finals are special to play. Also when you play the top guys, they are the favorites, but I will try to do my game like just like today and then see if Rafa give me a little chance to win.
Posted: 18.03.13 23:14. Post subject: BNP Paribas Open Ind..
BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, U.S.A.
RESULTS - SUNDAY, 17 MARCH, 2013
Singles - Final [5] R Nadal (ESP) d [7] J Del Potro (ARG) 46 63 64
FINAL REVIEW – NADAL MAKES MASTERS 1000 HISTORY; NOTCHES 600TH WIN • Fifth seed Rafael Nadal won a record-breaking 22nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and celebrated his third triumph in Indian Wells. • In defeating del Potro, Nadal joined Roger Federer as the only active players to reach 600 match wins. • With a 17-1 record in 2013, Nadal has posted his best season start, winning three consecutive trophies. • Nadal improved to a 53-22 record in tour-level finals. • Del Potro was contesting his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final (Montreal 2009).
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Rafael Nadal: "A lot of things happened the last seven months, [so] to be back here and to have this very heavy trophy with me is amazing. Beating three Top 10 players and winning a title like this is just something unbelievable for me. I'm very, very happy and very emotional."
"When you have one comeback like I'm having, you remember all the low things, the lower moments that you had during the seven months. Hopefully I passed and can just remember all the people that really helped me a lot during all this time."
Juan Martin del Potro: "I think Rafa deserved to win. The last hour of the match, he played so solid and put me so far [from] the baseline and made winners. But I think I [had] a good tournament anyway, and Rafa played really well today in the second and third sets. He broke me early in the third. Playing against him when the score is down is tougher. I was fighting all the time but he won in the end."
Posted: 19.03.13 21:22. Post subject: Juan Martin del Potr..
Juan Martin del Potro Press Conference Indian Wells, USA 17.03.2013
R. NADAL/J. Del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You were up a set and a break and at the end it's a loss. Is it very frustrating? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, but I think Rafa deserves to win. He plays unbelievable for like an hour there. The last hour of the match he didn't make effort. He played so solid and put me so far to the baseline and make winners from there. But I think I made a good tournament anyway, and Rafa played really well today the second and third set. He broke me early in the third. Play against him when the score is down is tougher, you know. But I was fighting all the time but he won in the end.
Q. How difficult was it to come back from yesterday's match physically? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I played three sets against Murray then three sets Djokovic. But the finals are finals. You know, they are special, and you get the energy from everywhere to play the finals. I think of course if he had a day off between matches would be fantastic, but Rafa plays yesterday, also. The conditions are the same for both players. I think my body was okay. Just he played better in the end and he deserved to win.
Q. What did you say to Rafa in Spanish after the match? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: That he deserved to win today. I'm so happy for him. Watching him in this level, he's playing really well. He already won three tournaments. He's winning more than everyone after six, seven months. It's amazing share with him again everything and his team, as well. I'm very happy for them.
Q. There were a lot of momentum changes in this match. He won the first three games and then you won nine of the next eleven and then he won five in a row. What do you think caused that match to swing so much both directions? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I don't know. I think all games are tough because he I don't serve really well and every game he has chances to break me. And also when he was serving I was close to break all the time, and all games was really close and can go for one or for the other. I think that was the reason of that. But I think in the end when I should play my best tennis he was better than me, and that was the key of the match.
Q. Did he remind you of when he was No. 1, you know, when he was winning all the time? Was it a very similar feeling? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah. I think I felt like a very big opening for me. Like always, like in the past, he's playing so solid, so strong. He's fast, you know, for play on this surface. I think he deserve to win the tournament. He beat very good players here and Indian Wells. What I say the days before, he's gonna be fighting for the first position very soon.
Q. You have been away from the circuit for a long time because you were injured. Tell us how difficult it is to come back. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Very difficult, yeah. First you have to lose the scare about your problem, and then take matches to feel good. You can see the matches in Viña from Rafa and see the difference between them and now is like another player. That's takes time to change or to improve. But he made so quick, so fast.
Q. Are you surprised? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, of course. But I don't know how surprised I am because Rafa can do everything. Not many players can do that.
Q. Why do you think Rafa has been able to come back so quickly to his level? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, he's very strong mentally. His game is very good, very strong, very solid. He has big talent, as well. His team was working with him every day to be in shape for this tournament after seven months. What I said, not many players can do that. Just him or maybe one or two more in the world. But it's amazing how fast he's recovered the level.
Q. You beat Djokovic and you beat Murray. What is the next step for you? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Beat Nadal, beat Federer. (Laughter.) Try to beat all of them. But I think I made a good tournament, anyway. Of course I am a little sad for my match of today, but after maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow I will be happy for this tournament and get motivation for the future, for the next one, and be ready, waiting for another chance like I made in this tournament.
Q. If Nicola in fact gets you in to see the Holy Father, would you be willing to take Rafa with you? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, just me. (Laughter.) I need it.
Q. You're playing Miami? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah.
Q. That's always been a good tournament for you. What are your thoughts on it? It's a fast turnaround. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I'm excited to play Miami. You know, many Argentinian fans, friends, family, come to watch me there. It's a very good tournament, as well. I'm so exciting to be playing there. But first I need couple of days for recovery, for rest, and I wish to do a similar tournament there like I did here.
Q. With all the Argentinian and South American fans in Miami, many people call it the Grand Slam of Latin America. Would you agree with that? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, yeah. I think many fans come to watch us around the world. But basically Miami, Argentinian fans, the facilities to come there are easier, and that's the reason of that. But the fans here also make a special tournament, but the Latino Americans are more caliente. (Laughter.)
Posted: 21.03.13 08:49. Post subject: http://www.atpworldt..
Sony Open Tennis Category: ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Place: Miami, U.S.A. Date: 20.03.2013-31.03.2013 Draw Size: S-96 D-32 Surface: Hard Prize Money: $ 4,330,625 Total Financial Commitment: $ 5,244,125
Posted: 23.03.13 16:06. Post subject: мдя... что это было?..
мдя... что это было?! не хотел? не мог? почему не снялся до матча? Камке - новый Федерер? жаль, что во втором сете не 6-0 - это бы встряхнуло получше. вот уж где не ждала... хотя после АО и Шарди... возможно, что травма (например, стертая в ИУ ступня) - надеялся, что хватит сил на Камке, о чем говорит борьба в первом сете. но Камке оказался не промах, и на второй сет ресурсов уже не было. вобщем, всем лечиться, тренироваться и вставить мозг на место.
Posted: 23.03.13 16:29. Post subject: Juan Martin del Potr..
Juan Martin del Potro Press Conference
SONY OPEN TENNIS Miami, U.S.A. 22.03.2012
T. KAMKE/J. Del Potro 7-6, 6-1
An interview with: JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How is your wrist feeling right now? Are you dealing with everything? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I hope I will be better these days without competitions. I will have a big rest for my wrist, and that's important to be ready and be 100% in my next tournament.
Q. Has that been bothering you throughout the course of the year since or since the US Open? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, sometimes is bothering me, but sometimes I can manage it, my pains, but wasn't today. I think he deserved to win, and it's okay.
Q. How much did the rain delay affect your game? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, we have a big delay, big stop, but doesn't affect my game. I think I come to the court again try to be aggressive, but I made a lot of mistakes, too many [] efforts with my forehand. And I start like the second match one set down, so was really close for me, but I need to work hard.
Q. Do you think there was any sort of, you know, letdown or fatigue from such a big week? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Sorry?
Q. Do you think there was any mental letdown or physical fatigue from having such a big week in Indian Wells? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, I like this tournament. I was excited to play here, but, you know, just a bad day and he play really well. He took the chance to beat me tonight, and I think that's it.
Q. How familiar are you with Tobias? Have you played him much or are you familiar with his game? JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, no, I never played against him until today. But he's a good player, of course.
Posted: 28.03.13 22:36. Post subject: Mela сейчас в Ole в..
Mela сейчас в Ole видела вот именно эти расплывчатые формулировки о проблемах со здоровьем кого-то в семье, и что Хуан находится с семьей. еще пишут, что консультировался с врачом по поводу запястья - есть первая степень растяжения, идет стандартное лечение. готовится к грунту.
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VAMOS!
, но играл очень здорово, особенно во втором сете. 
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