Del Potro, who won his 15th ATP crown earlier this month at Washington, has gained confidence from these victories ahead of the start to his US Open campaign. PHOTO: AFP
Juan Martin Del Potro has taken confidence from a hard-court title and an epic Wimbledon semi-final effort, but the Argentine sixth seed enters the US Open hungry to reach the next level.
Del Potro defeated Roger Federer in the 2009 US Open final to become the only Grand Slam winner in 34 majors since the 2005 Australian Open not in the star foursome of Federer, world number one Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and defending champion Andy Murray.
“The top four have a big difference to the rest of the players,” said Del Potro. “I have to do well in the big tournaments to get close, but that’s not easy. They are much better than the rest.”
In his most recent Grand Slam appearance, Del Potro lost the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 to Djokovic after four hours and 43 minutes in his deepest Slam run since his US Open title.
“It was a very good experience for me, even in the loss. I played a good match with the number one in the world. Many good things to take from this.”
Del Potro boosted by title wins
Del Potro won his 15th ATP crown earlier this month at Washington, his third career title in the US capital.
“It gives me confidence to keep going and get closer to the top guys,” he said.
At the US Open, Del Potro could face Serbia’s Djokovic in a quarter-final and potentially would be opposite Britain’s Murray, also the reigning Wimbledon champion, in the semi-finals.
Del Potro lost to home-nation big servers in Masters Series events earlier this month, falling to Milos Raonic at Montreal and John Isner at Cincinnati. But Isner and Raonic are on the opposite side of the US Open draw.
Del Potro also reached a hard-court final last March at Indian Wells, ousting Djokovic in the semi-finals before falling to Nadal in the title match.
For all his on-court efforts, the highlight of Del Potro’s year came in May when he met Pope Francis after attending Mass at the Vatican.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life. I’m very Catholic. It was a big moment I will never forget.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
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