Del Potro sees off Smith
Juan Martin del Potro continued his successful comeback to tennis with a straight-sets win over Aussie John-Patrick Smith at the Delray Beach Open on Thursday.
Delray Beach, FL, USA, 19 February 2016 | tennis.com.au
Juan Martin del Potro has overcome John-Patrick Smith in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open.
The 6-4 6-4 win continues the Argentine’s successful comeback from 11 months on the sidelines following a wrist injury.
Smith’s left-handed, serve-and-volley game troubled del Potro in patches during the match, and saw him score early breaks in both sets.
Yet the former world No.4’s power and consistency proved too strong.
Del Potro broke serve in the eighth game of the second set and although he failed to serve out the match when up 5-3, he broke serve in the very next game to seal the win in one hour, 17 minutes.
Next up is No.5 seed Jeremy Chardy.