Wimbledon 2016: Many happy returns as Juan Martin Del Potro wows Centre Court
Former US Open champion puts injury blues behind him to knock out two-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO is back...at last.
The former US Open champion, whose hopes of making his mark in tennis’ golden age have so far been dashed by injury, beat two-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 6-3 ,7-3, 6-3 to move into the third round.
Del Potro said: “It’s an amazing feeling.
“I really enjoyed the crowd. I was so happy on court.
“I beat a player who has been playing very good tennis.
“After my third surgery, it’s like my second or third career.
“I don’t know if I can be in the top positions again. I just want to play tennis.
“I am playing tennis and I am alive again.”
Del Potro is making his first appearance at Wimbledon since reaching the semi-final in 2013, having lost more than two years to problems with his left wrist.
But even though that means his backhand is still a shadow of its former self, the big Argentinian was too good for an out-of-sorts Wawrinka.
After exchanging the first two sets, the pair swapped breaks of serve in the first four games of the next and then it was nip and tuck as Del Potro’s fearsome forehand battled the brutal backhand of Wawrinka.
Del Potro won the crucial tiebreak 7-2 and kept the pressure on Wawrinka until he finally broke his serve again in eight game of the fourth.
The roar of the crowd confirmed how happy tennis is to see him back, even if it means losing the popular Wawrinka in the second round.
The Swiss had been seeded to face Andy Murray in the semi-finals, but that half of the draw now looks more open than ever.