Del Potro Keeps Semi Final Dream Alive
25 November 2009
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Juan Martin Del Potro's hopes of progressing into the semi finals of the ATP World Tour Finals were still alive last night after a win over Spain's Fernando Verdasco.
Verdasco struggled in the opening set and failed to show the form that pushed Roger Federer so hard in his opening match on Sunday.
Del Potro, who lost to Murray in his opening match despite a fight back, took full advantage of the Spaniard missing easy balls and it was errors from Verdasco that handed Del Potro the break early in the first set.
Del Potro's serve did come under some pressure in the tenth game and the U.S. Open champion was forced to save two break point before wrapping up the opening set in just thirty eight minutes.
But Del Potro, who has struggled with his form since winning his maiden Grand Slam in September, began to struggle in the second as Verdasco got going and started playing the tennis that has seen him move inside the top ten this year.
Unlike the opening set he was able to read the De Potro serve easier as well as putting a better serving performance himself.
Del Potro's game began to disintegrate and he looked uninterested in the match and the outcome as Verdasco dominated most areas of play.
Despite the fine performance from the Spaniard the crowd struggled to get into the match due to the peaks and lulls in both player's play.
Verdasco wrapped up the second set with little resistance from the Argentinean to keep his hopes of moving into the semis alive.
Into the deciding set and Del Potro looked like a different player as the desire, fight, and calm returned to his game as he opened up a 5-2 lead.
However Verdasco dug in once more and to pull back and Del Potro once again began to play more within himself.
But he had match point at 5-4 but couldn't wrap up the victory as Verdasco forced a tie break. But the Spaniard played an awful decider as his forehand crumbled and Del Potro sealed the win 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-1).
Del Potro will play Roger Federer in the final round robin match of Group A tomorrow while Verdasco will take on Andy Murray.
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