This match-up could easily have referred to one of two excellent matches between these two players in 2016. Their first meeting came in the Rio Olympics in the Gold Medal Match. Inside stadium packed with Argentine and British fans, making for an electric atmosphere, Murray defeated Del Potro in four high octane sets.
Yet that match only served as the amuse bouche for the Davis Cup meeting between the pair that would take place just a few weeks later in Glasgow.
Juan Martin del Potro defeats Andy Murray 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, Davis Cup Semi-Final.
It was the longest match of either player’s career lasting five hours and seven minutes. Featuring the World No.2 and a former Grand Slam winner on a monumental comeback trail that had already seen him defeat the likes of Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in 2016. Yet this is perhaps the best match on the men’s circuit in 2016.
Del Potro, still unsure of his full match strength, and certainly the underdog against Murray if the match went five sets started the quicker. Using a potent combination of slow, accurate backhand slices, paired with a cannon-like forehand, del Potro was able to control the tempo of the first set, keeping Murray off-balance and was rewarded with the first set.
Murray had lost his US Open quarter-final against Kei Nishikori in surprising fashion the week before, but came alive in the second set. Having spent the first set being repelled by del Potro’s resolute sliced backhand defence, Murray instead went with power to the del Potro forehand. On occasions it backfired, resulting in the storming del Potro winner that fans have come to love. However most of the time it worked, as long as Murray was using sufficient pace and angle he was earning dividends. This tactic changed the complexion of the match as Murray used it to sneak a break in the second set, and then edge a third set tie break, adding a number of net plays in the third set in particular.
Del Potro though, holds a deep love of representing Argentina, evident already from his passionate display in the Olympics. With little to lose in the fourth set, the Argentine swung more freely, opening up his backhand on occasion, foregoing the protective slice that had slowly eroded Murray in the first set. He earned the break, and closed the set out with an short-angle backhand volley.
The crowd, supportive throughout, came alive in the fifth set as those present sensed they were watching something special. Del Potro, with Murray serving first, seemed desperate to grab the break, perhaps knowing that if he himself were broken first that he would have the strength to return. He earned a break point at two-all, ripping a forehand winner up the line to create the opportunity, only to see Murray deny him.
The Scot could not deny del Potro in the next game however, as at thirty-forty, Murray tried to finish the point with an aggressive volley at the net. Del Potro, correctly guessing to defend his forehand wing, covered the ground superbly to wrap the forehand around Murray and earned the lead for the first time since the first set. Murray put up a huge fight as del Potro served for the match, especially on the thirty-fifteen point, but could not deny del Potro and Argentina from progressing to a Davis Cup final with Croatia.
Argentina would go on to defeat Croatia in the final, with del Potro earning the fourth rubber with a remarkable comeback against Marin Cilic from two-sets-to-love down. Murray would not lose again in the year, winning his last four events, including the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time, ending the year as the World No.1.
