Juan Martin del Potro is edging closer to a unlikely place in the Nitto ATP Finals after a surprisingly comfortable win over Marin Cilic in the Basel semi-finals. Del Potro defeated his fellow former US Open champion 6-4, 6-4.
The pair had had some stellar matches in the past, notable a crucial rubber in the Davis Cup Final last year that saw del Potro recover from two sets down to defeat Cilic as Argentina claimed their first Davis Cup title.
It was quickly apparent that this match did not contain the same quality as both men traded breaks early on. Defending champion Cilic in particular could not get his first serve delivery in consistently.
Del Potro benefited from the number of looks at second serves and broke serve again in the ninth game with three errors from Cilic. Del Potro himself served a double-fault as he attempted to serve out the set. He recovered from 0-30 to hold and move ahead in the match.
Cilic’s struggles continued in the second as Del Potro was handed three break points through the Croat’s serving woes. Del Potro quickly held again, and had more break opportunities partly due to a pair of double-faults from Cilic, but the Croatian held firm.
Cilic broke back but then promptly surrendered his serve again before del Potro suffered nerves in serving for the match, hitting just his second double-fault of the match. Like the first set though, he recovered from the deficit and held to move into the final.
Cilic’s defeat mean the Croatian can focus on the Paris Masters, where he is seeded 3rd, before taking part in the Nitto ATP Finals in London.
Del Potro is now in control of his own London destiny and can officially move into a place should he win the tournament. He awaits the winner of the top half semi-final between top seed Roger Federer and Belgium’s David Goffin.
The Argentine has been the beneficiary of poor tournaments from competitors for the season-ending tournament including Sam Querrey, Pablo Carreno Busta, and Kevin Anderson. Del Potro will also be looking to reclaim a title that he last won in 2012.
