Djokovic’s 22-match winning streak was ended by del Potro who was riding high after defeating Murray in the quarter-final. PHOTO: AFP
The dominant player in men’s tennis immediately turned his attention to Miami, where the second ATP Masters event of the season will start next week.
“It’s sport,” Djokovic said of the end of a streak that had stretched back to October 31. “Now I need a few days off and I’ll move on to Miami.”
His 17 victories this year included his run to a fourth Australian Open crown – his sixth Grand Slam title – and a triumph in Dubai.
Eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put up little resistance in the quarter-finals, but in del Potro, Djokovic was up against a former Grand Slam champion riding high after a quarter-final victory over world number three Andy Murray.
“He has a big serve. He moves around the court very well for his height,” Djokovic said of del Potro, whose career was interrupted by a wrist injury that required surgery and kept him off the court for most of 2010 — the year after he won the US Open.
“He uses that forehand as a great weapon. Great running forehand, so he’s opening that side. I didn’t use my backhand along the line as I usually do. It’s one of my best shots. Today it just wasn’t there. My backhand generally wasn’t there.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ