Juan Martín del Potro: 2017 resurgence is just the beginning
By Harry Floyd
Juan Martín del Potro has seen a resurgence on the 2017 ATP World Tour. The Argentinian tennis veteran remains in contention for the end of year finals.
Juan Martín del Potro continues on at the 2017 Shanghai Masters in China. A former runner-up at the tournament, he is into the semifinals.
His quarterfinals victory over Viktor Troicki also keeps del Potro’s hopes of qualifying for the 2017 ATP Finals in London alive. A win in Shanghai could thrust the Argentinian into the eleventh position in the Race to London.
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The 2017 ATP World Tour has regained the del Potro of old. With a 24-13 ATP singles record on the year going into Shanghai, the tennis star has risen once again in the rankings and proven that he still has what it takes to play on the big stage.
At the 2017 US Open, Juan Martín del Potro defeated Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
The semifinals appearance at Flushing Meadows would be his first semifinals major appearance since 2013. While he would lose to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the semis, it was clear that del Potro remains a contender for any Grand Slam.
At the very least, after play in Shanghai, the Argentinian will reenter the ATP Top 20. He currently sits in the world No. 23 position, but his strong play so far has guaranteed him enough points to make the jump in the rankings. He faces the winner of Roger Federer and Richard Gasquet in the next round of play.
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A meeting with Federer could spell a rematch of his and del Potro’s fantastic quarterfinals match at the US Open. With the sets tied 1-1, del Potro rose with the backing of his fans to defeat Federer in a thrilling third set tiebreak. The Argentinian would end the match in the fourth set, winning 7–5, 3–6, 7–6 (8), 6–4.
Juan Martín del Potro is a fan favorite and boasts 19 ATP singles titles to his name. He is the 2009 US Open men’s singles champion and is a former world No. 4 on the ATP World Tour. Having just turned 29-years-old, he slides right into the era of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and others. While Nadal and Federer have largely dominated the 2017 ATP World Tour, del Potro is proof that other top players in men’s singles are here to put up a fight. If he can continue on at the Shanghai Masters, look for Juan Martín del Potro to make a run at the ATP Finals in London. Stay tuned to see how the action unfolds in Shanghai.