Djokovic vs. Del Potro: The Rivalry Resumes

At first glance it is a rivalry that reads heavily in Novak Djokovic’s favour, but a closer inspection of the Serbian’s encounters with Juan Martin del Potro reveals a very different state of affairs. For nearly a decade the two have waged a string of epic battles and after their respective second-round triumphs at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, they will lock horns for a 17th time this week.

Djokovic leads the FedEx ATP Head2Head series 12-4, but five of their past six matches have gone the distance. The only match in those six that hasn’t was del Potro’s narrow 7-6(4), 7-6(2) shock win in the first round of last year’s Rio Olympic Games. It was a victory the Argentine used as a springboard to claim the Olympic silver medal (l. to Murray).

Djokovic gained revenge in their most recent outing, a high-quality 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 match in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel second round in Acapulco little more than a week ago. Read & Watch Highlights

“I have to give it my all,” said Djokovic. “That’s what it takes to beat this guy. Even though he is not ranked as high and he hasn’t played that many tournaments [he was] definitely one of the best players in the world last year, especially in the second part of the year, winning Davis Cup, silver medal for his country – beating myself – and [beating] Wawrinka at Wimbledon.

“He’s a tough player to beat. He’s a big guy, big serve, big forehand. Definitely not the draw that you like early in the tournament and that you wish for, but it is what it is.

“I have played him some weeks ago in Acapulco. Very close match. It went down to the last couple of points. I don’t expect anything less than that.”

Injuries to del Potro have surely robbed the pair of adding to that rivalry. They did not play each other for nearly three years from the 2013 ATP Finals round-robin stage, which Djokovic won, until their Rio Olympics clash.

It was a rivalry arguably stymied at its peak, with the pair duelling five times in 2013. Djokovic may have claimed the Fed Ex ATP Head2Head bragging rights that year 4-1, but four of the five encounters went the distance, including one of the greatest semi-final battles seen at Wimbledon when the Serbian emerged triumphant after four hours and 43 minutes, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-3.

The pair has played once before at Indian Wells and del Potro will be hoping it proves a good omen. The Argentine claimed that battle in the 2013 semi-finals in three sets.