On a cool and breezy day here at Crandon Park, Juan Martin Del Potro moved into the quarterfinals of the Miami Open with an impressive 6-4 6-2 victory over Filip Krajinovic, which included an incredible run of nine successive games from 1-4 down in the opening set.
Having won his maiden Masters Series title in Indian Wells just over a week ago, many will fancy the 5th seeded Argentinean to go all the way here in Miami and secure the so called ‘Sunshine Double’ as Roger Federer had done last year.
It was the first meeting between the pair, and it was the Serb, seeded 22, who got off to a quick start, breaking the Argentinean to move ahead 3-1 when a Del Potro sliced backhand sailed wide. This spurred the legion of Del Potro fans into spontaneous chanting, and he responded accordingly. He broke back in the seventh game and held for 4-4 to the delight of the partisan crowd. Krajinovic must surely have feared the worst when Del Potro, going toe to toe with him from the baseline, ran around his backhand in customary fashion, and crushed a howitzer forehand that found the sideline for a clean winner to set up break point as his confounded opponent stared at the mark in disbelief. The Argentinean broke immediately as a dejected Krajinovic sent his backhand long.
Del Potro eventually served out the set in a marathon service game that went to deuce four times, saving two break points, but ultimately clinching the 47 minute set on his third set point, set up with a stupendous backhand pass up the line, with the jaded Krajinovic’s backhand going marginally wide on set point.
The second set saw Del Potro move up a gear as the resolve of his Serbian opponent disintegrated. He broke Krajinovic twice in quick succession to move ahead 4-0, and from there it was plain sailing for the tall Argentinean as he closed out the 83 minute match on serve when Krajinovic sent his backhand return wide.
Del Potro served 7 aces and got 64% of first serves into court. He converted 4 of 7 break point opportunities.
“The weather conditions was really bad to play tennis”, Del Potro said. “We couldn’t feel 100 percent the ball on our rackets and we couldn’t make points from the baseline, but despite the wind I survived and won another time and hopefully tomorrow I can feel better the tennis ball if the weather condition allow me to feel better on the court.”
Del Potro will face Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals who earlier overcame Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4. Del Potro beat him comfortably in the semifinals of Indian Wells this year, but knows that the big serving Canadian will be a different proposition here in Miami.
“I think it will be a different match to Indian Wells because we have different conditions here. Milos is improving his game every day and he is playing very solid in this tournament. I think he has the potential to win the tournament as well and it will be interesting match to see how I feel and where my level is.”
