Tennis News

Del Potro, A Day To Remember: 'Now I Dream Of Being Happy'

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the image of Juan Martin del Potro’s headband hanging on the net is perhaps worth a million.

It may have marked the retirement of the Argentine legend, which came after floods of tears, a knot in his stomach and an astonishing match that was undercut by a unique atmosphere and proved difficult to play since it represented so much more than a mere sporting confrontation.

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a day for Delpo and his hordes of followers. At 8:22 p.m. on a warm night at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, del Potro stepped out onto a Guillermo Vilas Centre Court that was packed with over 5,000 spectators.

After 965 days away from the sport, the 33-year-old Argentine was back on court, back in front of his people. No fewer than 16 years had passed since his debut in this tournament, when he lost to Juan Carlos Ferrero as a 17-year-old world No. 155.

The two most intense moments of the day came at the beginning and end of the match. First, when the stadium announcer introduced del Potro, the man from Tandil came out to a standing ovation that seemed as if it would never end. Dressed in black with white head and wrist bands, the 2009 US Open champion was given a welcome he will surely never forget.

The second came at the end of the clash, when del Potro fought to hold back the tears. He took the microphone and managed to utter: “I think I overdid it for two and half years to try and resolve the situation and be able to play, like I did so many other times. Sometimes, I too can lose and I don’t have the strength to continue. That’s kind of how I feel now,” he said.

“Today is a day I’ll remember for my whole life… I’m still yet to find a place where I feel happier than on a tennis court and now I want to be happy,” he explained, trying to make himself heard over the continuous ovation. What he said next hit harder: “I gave everything I could until the last point. I’ll always remember this day, but I feel like I have my whole life ahead of me and I can walk away in peace.”

^{Photo Credit: Getty Images}

It was a special day for del Petro. He decided to arrive at the club at 4:45 p.m. and went out for a knock up on Court No. 12. His sparring partner was Ecuadorian left-handed doubles player Gonzalo Escobar, who would attempt to emulate Delbonis. Children, adults, whole families even, jostled for a close-up glimpse of their hero through the bushes and fencing.

In fact, several hours earlier Buenos Aires was replete with banners that read ‘So great to see you again, thank you Delpo!”

The sentiment was even stronger in the immediate vicinity of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, where a crowd began to grow early in the day. Seeing del Potro was the only goal and the sole reason for the presence of thousands of fans on Tuesday.

Even before the doors opened for the night session (for which tickets sold out over a week ago), the queue to join the party stretched for over one kilometre.

Perhaps the most important member of the crowd was his mother Patricia, who had never watched her son in a professional tournament. She was finally able to do so in the front row in the company of his sister Julieta. Although the match was not going as she would have hoped, far from it, a smile was never far from her face. In the context, the result was unimportant.

“When it was over, I was able to give mum a hug that I’ll always remember. We’re not used to that being public, but it was really wonderful,” explained an emotional delpo before also speaking of his father Daniel, who passed away in 2021.

^{Photo Credit: Oscar Roberto Castro/Argentina Open}

There were also a number of del Potro’s childhood friends in the throng who had come by car from Tandil to cheer on ‘Palito’ (‘Stick’), which they have called him since they were 13 or 14 because of his skinny frame.

Those same fourteen friends were with him in New York in 2018 when he reached the US Open final; they are his old classmates, who call themselves “The Salamín Squad” after their city’s traditional salami. They were ready to enjoy themselves, and to endure anything the match might throw at them.

Accompanied by snare drums, they could be heard chanting for their man, not only after every one of the Argentine’s winning forehands, but also to lift him when things were not going his way.

The players’ box was packed to the brim too as nobody wanted to miss a moment of del Potro’s comeback. Argentine players Guillermo Coria, Gabriela Sabatini and the majority of those who have shared this week with the man of the moment tagged in and out of their places so that they all had the opportunity to “watch Delpo for a while,” as one of them explained.

Del Potro may have lost a match, “probably” the last of his career, but his legacy and unique bond with his fans will live on forever. Tuesday night was one final gift in an always-astonishing, fairy-tale career.

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Isner Rides 30 Aces To Home Win Against Anderson In Dallas

John Isner expected a tight battle in his opening match at his hometown Dallas Open on Wednesday against Kevin Anderson. That is exactly what the American got.

But despite letting slip an opportunity to close out the match in straight sets, Isner triumphed 7-6(1), 6-7(7), 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.

“It was a good atmosphere for sure and very happy to win that match, especially when I truthfully kind of choked in the second set. Just great to win and I knew it was going to be a coinflip match,” Isner said. “I told my friends, ‘This is a coinflip, this is what it is.’ I haven’t played much, he had a match under his belt. It just was going to be tough the whole way, so hopefully I can build on this.”

Isner had match point on his serve in the second-set tie-break, but hit a double fault (his third and final one of the clash). But the home favourite, who trains at this facility when he is home in Dallas, fought until the end in front of a raucous crowd.

The third seed, who lives within walking distance of the venue, let out a massive roar after delivering a booming serve out wide to complete his victory. Isner hit 30 aces, won 89 per cent of his first-serve points and did not face a break point.

Next up for Isner will be one of two qualifiers. Canadian Vasek Pospisil will face Austrian Jurij Rodionov to earn a chance at taking down the American.

In other action, seventh seed Marcos Giron rallied from a set and a break down to eliminate British qualifier Liam Broady 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 after one hour and 40 minutes. Giron will play top seed Taylor Fritz or another countryman, wild card Jack Sock, in the last eight.

Australian Jordan Thompson also reached the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 7-6(1) win against eighth seed Brandon Nakashima.

In first-round action, fifth seed Adrian Mannarino battled through a final-set tie-break. The Frenchman clawed past American Steve Johnson 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-6(2) and will play Japanese lefty Yoshihito Nishioka.

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Brooksby: 'You Have To Prove Yourself'

Jenson Brooksby did not take much time during the offseason to reflect on his 2021 success. The ATP Newcomer of the Year briefly discussed it with his family at home in December, but he is not one to rest on his laurels.

“In tennis you have to focus on the next moment because at the end of the day, this year is a new year,” Brooksby told ATPTour.com. “You have to prove yourself and keep getting better. There are things in the moment that I do enjoy, but you have to keep your focus on.”

The American missed the Australian swing due to a positive Covid-19 test, which prevented him from travelling Down Under. After competing in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Columbus, he is playing his first tour-level event of the year this week at the Dallas Open.

“I’m really excited. Even my couple months of offseason after Paris, I was coming back from an ab injury and then I had some other things going on, so I only really got three to four days of full training when I was feeling good on court, which is not ideal,” Brooksby said. “Then Covid hit right before Australia and I was also sick [with something else] during Columbus, so that wasn’t nice.

“But since Columbus, the past week of training here, I’ve gotten more hours, better tennis training, which I’ve wanted. I’m hoping and working to stay healthy and excited to see how I can improve this year.”

If there is one word that describes Brooksby, it is focussed. The American is a maximiser who puts everything he can into every practice, training session and match. Besides staying healthy, which he said is his number one priority, the 21-year-old aims to boost his physicality on the court.

One match that stuck out to Brooksby last year was at the US Open against Novak Djokovic. The home favourite battled through three tough matches and in the Round of 16 took the opening set from World No. 1 Djokovic 6-1 before the Serbian rallied behind unrelenting physical play.

“That’s why all these things — the process — are so important, because they can all make a big difference to last even longer. That’s how I feel I’ll get the most confidence with myself. If I’m doing everything I think I can to get through longer and not have the body affect me later on in matches and not allow me to play how I want to play [that will help my confidence], because it’s disappointing,” Brooksby said. “I want to win tournaments and at least I had the opportunity last year to see what it takes.

“There’s no tougher feeling than losing that way for me. I think it’s key that I’ve learned well, will continue to learn and do the things that will hopefully help me win titles and get through those weeks body-wise.”

Brooksby added that there is always something to improve on.

“[It is about] just really being physical in my playing and learning new things in the game, too. But also [it is] getting my mind to really just focus on a few things on court and compete, not overthink, which is what I do well,” Brooksby said. “Sometimes it can be easy to get out of it. I think those few areas, at least right now, are what I’m hoping to improve on.”

The World No. 54 reached his first ATP Tour final last year in Newport, made the semi-finals in Washington, D.C., and ascended from outside the world’s Top 300 to the fringe of the Top 50. Although he appreciates all the positive feedback he has gotten following his breakthrough season, he is locked in on performing even better.

“I can’t be a fan of it. That’s the tough part back home,” Brooksby said. “I’m happy that everyone is proud of me, but it’s my job.

“I think it does take a lot of discipline to not look things up or be distracted by other things, but I’ve done it enough lately where it’s become simpler for me and I’m sure that’ll be the case as I keep doing that. All that matters for me at least is how I’m focussed on my process and how I’m getting better.”

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Returning BA Champ Ruud Wins In First Match Since ATP Cup

Casper Ruud made a successful return to action on Wednesday following an ankle injury that forced his late withdrawal from the Australian Open. Playing his first match since the ATP Cup, the 23-year-old Norwegian defeated Roberto Carballes Baena, 7-6(2), 6-3, in Buenos Aires.

Ruud won his first ATP title as the eighth seed at the 2020 Argentina Open, and enters this year as the World No. 8. The top seed extended his perfect record to 6-0 at the event with the win over Carballes Baena.

“It was a good start. First time playing on clay in six months, so everything is a bit new again,” he said post-match. “Of course I prefer to play on clay, but it takes some time to get used to the court and playing points.”

Now with six ATP titles to his name, including five in 2021, Ruud is attempting to back up his maiden trophy. (He did not play the 2021 event, won by Diego Schwartzman, the second seed this year.)

“I feel, obviously, very good in Buenos Aires. I was a bit nervous coming back because it’s the first time I have to defend a title,” he said, before thanking the fans for their support.

“Everything is a bit different since two years ago. When I won here it was a surprise. I was young.”

Ruud will face Federico Coria in the quarter-finals, after the Argentine scored a comeback 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Dusan Lajovic. Coria trailed 3-5 in the second set, but stormed back to win the final four games of the set in front of his home fans.

In the decisive set, he used a run of 12 straight points to turn a 0-1 hole into a 3-1 lead from which he never looked back. The match featured nine breaks of serve, with five for Coria.

“I know Federico well,” Ruud said, previewing their Friday quarter-final—a rematch of the 2021 Swedish Open final, won by the Norwegian. “Last year we played in Bastad, so it was my home court, and now we’re playing here in Buenos Aires, so it’s his home. It will be tough for me, and I hope I can play a good match and of course feel again the good energy from the stadium.”

Fernando Verdasco was also a come-from-behind winner against Thiago Monteiro, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. The unseeded Spaniard will face the winner of Wednesday’s nightcap between third seed Lorenzo Sonego and Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

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Stebe: 'I Don’t Want To Regret Not Trying Everything'

The tennis world shared its love for Juan Martin del Potro Tuesday evening after the Argentine made an emotional return in Buenos Aires. Few can empathise as much with what Del Potro has gone through like Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, who is competing this week at the Dallas Open.

The German reached a career-high No. 71 in the ATP Rankings in 2012 and made his maiden ATP Tour final in 2019 as the World No. 455. But the lefty has spent large chunks of his career dealing with injuries.

“I’ve been maybe in the same position as he was. Mentally it’s just really challenging if you’re injured for a very long time. You try to come back and you work your a** off and every time, you have to accept the fact that you can’t really play or compete at your best level anymore,” Stebe said. “It’s really frustrating at some point. But for him, he has achieved some incredible things. He made the best of his career. I always had the feeling I haven’t reached my full potential.”

Three years ago, the German told ATP Tour.com it was as if someone had a voodoo doll of him and had been sticking needles into various body parts randomly. Before the pandemic, Stebe had already dealt with injuries to his hip, lower back, pubic bone, pelvic area and right wrist. Since then, it has not been much better.

“It just felt like something was completely out of balance with my body. [Since the pandemic started] I had several abdominal tears or strains. I had a couple quad muscle fibre tears and calf muscle fibre tears. It was basically everywhere,” Stebe said. “I dislocated my right shoulder. It was literally everywhere and that kept me thinking there must be something wrong.”

Stebe admitted that at times he has struggled finding motivation. But the World No. 231 qualified this week in Dallas and won his opening match in the main draw to earn a second-round clash against second seed Reilly Opelka. Despite all the struggles, he is still pushing forward.

“I don’t want to stop until I feel I’ve given 110 or 115 per cent. There is such a short period of time you have your career and I don’t want to stop and regret not trying everything,” Stebe said. “I want to still do my best. I know some guys are playing their best in their mid-30s, so it’s nice to see that people can do it still. It gives me belief I can do it, too.”

For now, Stebe’s biggest goal is to stay healthy and charge back into the Top 100. For the first time, he did offseason training outside of Germany (in Florida at the IMG Academy). The 31-year-old plans to craft a “smart” schedule and still has belief his best is still to come.

“I know I can play some good tennis. That’s always kept me motivated somehow. I was always trying to figure out how not to be injured,” Stebe said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can. Hopefully it works out in the end and I can play a couple more years and still enjoy playing tennis and enjoy life on Tour.”

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Murray Eases Past Bublik, Sets Felix Clash

Back in the ATP Top 100 for the first time since 2018, Andy Murray reminded fans of his world-class abilities on Wednesday evening.

The former World No. 1 showed plenty of his trademark grit and staggering court-coverage to defeat World No. 31 Alexander Bublik 7-6(6), 6-4 and reach the second round of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

“There were some tough moments in the first set for both of us,” said wild card Murray after the match. “I just managed to come through at the end of it. Some great returns off some big second serves from him at the end and I did a good job. It’s not easy playing against someone like that, huge serves, a lot of drop shots and you’ve got to keep your focus and I did that well tonight.”

The only previous meeting between the pair had taken place in markedly different circumstances back in 2017. Murray beat Bublik in straight sets in the first round at that year’s Wimbledon, a tournament at which the Brit was the top seed and Bublik a 135th-ranked lucky loser.

The Kazakh has come a long way since then and picked up both his first ATP Tour title and the biggest win of his career by defeating World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier last week.

A gripping first set saw both players miss early break point opportunities, before Montpellier champion Bublik finally broke through on the Murray serve for a 6-5 lead. He was unable to serve out the set, however, as a poor service game allowed Murray to force a tie-break.

Legs: Activated ?‍♂️@andy_murray turning on the afterburners! #abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/ZiY4e0MFxu Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 9, 2022

Some trademark scarpering from Murray edged him ahead in the tie-break but he still needed three set points to win it 8/6, the Kazakh refusing to be overrun.

Murray stayed aggressive throughout, hitting 27 winners as there were signs that Bublik’s exploits in France last week were starting to catch up with him physically. The energetic Brit effectively read a series of Bublik drop shots as he broke for 4-3 in the second set before closing out victory.

Murray’s next opponent will be third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime after the Canadian overcame a slow start to beat qualifier Egor Gerasimov in three sets earlier on Wednesday. Auger-Aliassime won his only meeting with three-time Grand Slam champion Murray in straight-sets at the 2020 US Open.

“[I’m] looking forward to that one,” said Murray on the second-round clash. “He [Auger-Aliassime] started the year pretty well and is one of the best young players just now. I’ll need to be on my game if I want to beat him, but it’s a great test for me and we’ll see what happens out there.”

Cameron Norrie reached his first quarter-final of the year with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov. The Brit dominated on second-serve return, limiting the Russian to just 31 per cent of second-serve points won.

The sixth seed, who began the year with four straight losses at ATP Cup and the Australian Open, awaits the winner of Murray and Auger-Aliassime.

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Andy Murray beats Alexander Bublik at Rotterdam Open

Andy Murray claims a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Rotterdam Open.

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Musetti Rocks Hurkacz In Rotterdam

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

It was a difficult start to 2022 for Lorenzo Musetti but the young Italian is showing no signs of backing down from the challenges of the ATP Tour.

The #NextGenATP star claimed the second biggest win of his career on Wednesday as he took out World No. 11 Hubert Hurkacz with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 second-round win at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.

Choosing to play in Rotterdam could be seen as a brave move for natural clay-courter Musetti as he seeks confidence-building wins after two disappointing first-round exits in Australia to start his year. Yet he believes the challenge of adjusting to new environments is key to his development.

“I played in Australia with a little bit of stress, and I had two tough matches with two great opponents,” said the World No. 63 after the Hurkacz win. “From losses you take a lot of experience, especially as younger players, so for me it’s really helpful and I decided to play indoors on a hard court because it is maybe my worst surface. I didn’t think about being here [in the quarter-finals] but I’m really enjoying it.”

Stop it Lorenzo ?#abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/0deRUDkZs5

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 9, 2022

Musetti’s return game was particularly impressive against Hurkacz as he achieved the impressive feat of breaking the Pole’s booming serve three times.

The 2021 Miami Open presented by Itau winner Hurkacz hit 37 winners to Musetti’s 22, but the Italian chose his moments to step up his game and dropped just one point on his first serve in the deciding set to book a quarter-final meeting with either home favourite Botic van de Zandschulp or Czech Jiri Lehecka.

The victory gives Musetti a 2-1 lead in the pair’s ATP Head2Head series, and the Italian was pleased with how he kept focus to upset the fourth seed.

“You can see what he can do with the serve, especially in the second and third sets,” said Musetti. “It’s so tough to break him but we know each other a little bit because it was the third time that we’ve played. I started well, really aggressive and I think the key was to keep my serve and try to break him in the games when he was not serving so good. A little bit of up and down in the second but I think I managed well in the third set so I’m really happy.”

With several big seeds falling early in Rotterdam, Musetti sees an open opportunity to extend his run. “I think everyone has the potential to win every tournament,” said the Italian. “I’m really enjoying it here. I hope to play another good match and fingers crossed I hope to get to the semi-final.”

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Juan Martin del Potro loses on return and hints at farewell

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro makes a losing return after two and a half years out with injury, and may not play again.

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Next Stop – Nomadic Life With… Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz is the top seed at this week’s Dallas Open, an ATP 250 in Texas. Before his second-round match against Jack Sock on Thursday, the 24-year-old, who is at a career-high No. 19 in the ATP Rankings, spoke to ATPTour.com about his life on the ATP Tour.

This is the newest edition of ATPTour.com’s Next Stop – Nomadic Life series.

What are two essential non-tennis items you always pack for trips?
I always bring my computer to just keep me entertained. Outside of tennis stuff, I don’t know if there are any other essentials. Obviously toiletries and stuff.

What item did you forget to bring one time that caused you distress?
I’m a pretty last-second packer, so occasionally I’ll leave out some little things. But never anything too serious. I pack within the hour before I leave. I just like to do that.

Are you someone who gets to the airport with lots of time to spare or do you cut it fine?
I usually set a time to leave that’s pretty safe because usually I’m 15 minutes late. Usually I’m cutting it close, but never too worried about it.

Watch Next Stop Rotterdam: Matwe Middelkoop’s Backstage Tour

As a tennis player, maintaining your body is of the utmost importance, so how do you take care of it during long trips?
I have my physio, so we’ll do work to try and loosen up the body, especially the day after I land. But the most important thing on a long travel day is probably just making sure that I get myself set on the right timezone as soon as possible. So if I land in the morning, I make sure I stay up and go to sleep at a regular time. Definitely no naps the first day.

You beat the jetlag on the first day. I don’t know what people believe, but you’re going to either have it bad or beat it based on the first day you get there.

How long did it take you to realise that?
I think I’ve alway known that, at least for the past couple years. But sometimes it’s just tough. You’re really, really tired when you get in sometimes. I feel like I’ve just done a better job recently of fighting it out and staying up until a good time.

How do you pass the time on airplanes?
Sleep. I spend more than half of my time on an airplane sleeping. Purposely a lot of times I’ll stay up a little later the night before so it’s easier for me to go to sleep when I get on the plane. I’m really great at sleeping wherever. I love sleeping.

Is that for sleeping or in general?
I’d say for tennis. I do it a lot on the road. I feel like I play better when I’m extremely well-rested.

Watch Fritz’s Los Cabos Tour:

When you land, especially after a long flight, do you have to go straight with your physio to take care of stuff?
I will. If he’s already there I will and we’ll get on the table and loosen up the body and stuff. But if we land at different times, sometimes I’ll land after a long flight at night and I’ll just go to sleep, and sometimes I’ll land in the morning and I’ll try to get through a training day.

Have you ever decided to play a specific tournament in part because you wanted to travel to that city?
Not really. I think there have been tournaments I’ve gone to where it also worked out because I wanted to go there too. I wanted to go to Doha and Dubai last year, but it also made sense with my schedule. During the Asian Swing, when I had to choose between Beijing and Tokyo I would choose Tokyo because I always wanted to go to Japan.

When you’re picking your schedule, how do you select your tournaments? Is it just based on what fits best with your tennis?
Maybe tournaments that I’ve played well at in the past or I feel good at. I’ll even sometimes look at the specific type of balls they’re using at a tournament. I think that plays a big part in it… I’m just always thinking about feeling good physically, where I’m going to play good tennis and peaking at the biggest, most important events.

Where is your favourite vacation destination?
Probably Hawaii. I like Hawaii quite a bit. I went when I was pretty young [for the first time].

You’re here at the inaugural Dallas Open this week. What do you think about the tournament moving here this year?
It’s awesome. I think it’s a really good move. It’s in between Florida and Los Angeles… I like the fact that there’s a tournament here now. I think it’s going to do really well. I think the people the fans are going to be really good and I hope it does well.

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