Juan Martin del Potro hit the ground running in 2016, when he made his comeback to the professional tennis tour after a lengthy injury layoff. Those who had hoped for his good form to extend to the 2017 season were, however, left disappointed as del Potro struggled to come up with a similar upsurge in his results. Tricky draws and tougher opponents made it difficult for him to get past initial rounds in tournaments.
In his US Open fourth round match against Dominic Thiem though, the ‘Gentle Giant’ as the Argentine is affectionately called, more than belied his previous results to come up with one of the best performances of his career. Coming back to take the win from two-sets-down, after saving match points and fighting past his own health, del Potro gave yet another example of the player he has come to be seen as.
He also turned back time. Not only to 2016 when he was battling against all odds, but also to 2009, the year when he came of age by winning his first – and only – Major in Flushing Meadows. As it is, then, wont to in such incredible circumstances, Twitter reacted by showering praise and love on the 28-year-old:
When asked how did he manage to turn the match around, this is what he said:
Some even speculated it was because of Mardy Fish’s mojo: the high-five that perhaps changed it all...
Del Potro himself described his win as “inolvidable”, Spanish for unforgettable. He also had a few things to share to his fans in the stands, who were rigorously chanting for him in each point:
The best reaction, however, came from Roger Federer himself. The man who he will play in the quarter-finals, and the man whom he beat in the 2009 final en route to winning the title:
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