LONDON, JULY 1: The big man is back. In his first grand slam event for two and a half years, Juan Martín del Potro produced a performance that surely even he did not expect as he upset the No4 seed, Stan Wawrinka, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 to reach the third round. Having had three bouts of surgery to his wrist, the Argentinian has been struggling to get back to 100% but played aggressive and bold tennis to produce the best win since he returned to the tour full-time in March.
“It is an amazing sensation for me,” said Del Potro, whose hands were shaking after he came off the court. “I beat one of the guys who’s playing great tennis this season. I couldn’t expect this victory today but I played much better after the first set. I was so happy to be on court, it didn’t matter but now I am really happy.
“After my third surgery, it’s like my second or third career in my young life. I just want to play tennis again. It’s a great sensation for me. I feel alive.”Having skipped the clay-court season to give him more time to strengthen his wrist, the 2009 US Open champion reached the semi-finals in Stuttgart but was beaten by John Isner in the first round at Queen’s. Working his way back up the rankings, the world No165, a semi-finalist here in 2013, still struggles to hit through his two-handed backhand but his serve and forehand remain big weapons and he forced Wawrinka out of his comfort zone.
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The Swiss, whose quarter-final showing last year was his best Wimbledon effort to go with his grand slam titles in Australia (2014) and France (2015), took the first set comfortably but Del Potro settled down in the second set, his thumping forehand reverberating inside the Centre Court under the roof, which was closed from the start.
A Wawrinka double-fault handed Del Potro the vital break in the second set and with the No4 seed making several uncharacteristic errors, even on his usually brilliant one-handed backhand, the Argentinian levelled the match.
The pair traded four straight breaks of serve at the start of the third set but Del Potro took it on the tie-break, 7-2. Wawrinka saved two break points at 2-3 in the fourth but Del Potro broke two games later and served out for the match in style. He will play Lucas Pouille of France or the American Donald Young in round three.
