Del Potro advances to Miami Open semifinal
Miami, March 29: Juan Martin del Potro raised the roof as he came from behind to beat Milos Raonic 5- 7, 7- 6 ( 7/ 1), 7- 6 ( 7/ 3) and power into a Miami Open semifinal clash with American John Isner, who destroyed South Korean Chung Hyeon 6- 1, 6- 4.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, del Potro rallied after losing the first set to finally wear down the Canadian in two hours and 53 minutes of relentless drama.
There was little difference between these two big hitters, but it was the Argentine who held his nerve when it counted to book a last- four encounter with Isner on Friday.
“I love to play in matches like this,” a visibly weary del Potro said after his 15th straight match win.
“We both played well, the difference was perhaps that I just played better in the tie- breaks. I am tired now, but at least I have a day off to prepare for Friday. It’s going to be important that I recover physically and mentally because that was a real battle,” Del Potro added.
Del Potro came into the match owning the hottest streak on the ATP tour with 20 match wins this year.
The Argentine’s return to form has delighted his fans in Miami, where they packed the main stadium once again to cheer their hero ever closer to winning the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami on the heels of his triumph in Acapulco.
Isner will, however, be a difficult nut to crack with the American playing some of the best tennis of his career.