Sydney International: Del Potro ousts top seed Fognini in comeback
Defending champion will meet Kukushkin in quarter-final
LONG WAIT: Argentinean Del Potro is playing in the Sydney tournament on a wildcard for his first event since last February following an injury-ravaged 2014 season. PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY:
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro came from a set down to dump top seed Fabio Fognini out of the Sydney International and advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Argentine grand slam champion has won his first two matches in 10 months at the tournament following wrist surgery as he fights his way back to the top echelon of men's tennis.
Del Potro, a one-time world number four, but whose ranking has dived to 338 due to his inactivity, defeated the world number 18, Italian Fognini 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
"I thought I played better. I feel better on the court, especially in the end of the match," said Del Potro. "I served well, hit good forehands and my backhands improved vastly from yesterday.”
The former US Open champion will meet Kazakhstan qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin, who upset Uruguayan sixth seed Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 7-5 in the last eight.
Pironkova chalks up 14th straight win
Tsvetana Pironkova's stretched her Sydney International winning streak to 14 matches with a straight sets victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to reach the women’s semi-finals.
The Bulgarian, who again had to fight her way through qualifying to reach the main draw, ousted the world number 25 Czech 6-4, 6-1.
It continued an amazing run at the tournament by the Bulgarian world number 67, who was a shock winner in 2014 after battling through the three rounds of qualifying to beat Germany's Angelique Kerber in her eighth match at Sydney Olympic Park.
Pironkova, 27, had to do things the hard way to reach the last four after coming through qualifying to reach the main draw.
"I'm super excited. To be honest, I didn't really believe that I could go this far again because I had to start from qualifiers again," said Pironkova.
"It's a very strong tournament. So I'm incredibly happy that I'm here today winning again, so I will just try to do it again."
Pironkova now faces two-time Wimbledon champion and second seed Petra Kvitova in a repeat of their semi-final match-up last year, which the Bulgarian won.
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro came from a set down to dump top seed Fabio Fognini out of the Sydney International and advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Argentine grand slam champion has won his first two matches in 10 months at the tournament following wrist surgery as he fights his way back to the top echelon of men's tennis.
Del Potro, a one-time world number four, but whose ranking has dived to 338 due to his inactivity, defeated the world number 18, Italian Fognini 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
"I thought I played better. I feel better on the court, especially in the end of the match," said Del Potro. "I served well, hit good forehands and my backhands improved vastly from yesterday.”
The former US Open champion will meet Kazakhstan qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin, who upset Uruguayan sixth seed Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 7-5 in the last eight.
Pironkova chalks up 14th straight win
Tsvetana Pironkova's stretched her Sydney International winning streak to 14 matches with a straight sets victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to reach the women’s semi-finals.
The Bulgarian, who again had to fight her way through qualifying to reach the main draw, ousted the world number 25 Czech 6-4, 6-1.
It continued an amazing run at the tournament by the Bulgarian world number 67, who was a shock winner in 2014 after battling through the three rounds of qualifying to beat Germany's Angelique Kerber in her eighth match at Sydney Olympic Park.
Pironkova, 27, had to do things the hard way to reach the last four after coming through qualifying to reach the main draw.
"I'm super excited. To be honest, I didn't really believe that I could go this far again because I had to start from qualifiers again," said Pironkova.
"It's a very strong tournament. So I'm incredibly happy that I'm here today winning again, so I will just try to do it again."
Pironkova now faces two-time Wimbledon champion and second seed Petra Kvitova in a repeat of their semi-final match-up last year, which the Bulgarian won.