Juan Martin del Potro Makes Winning Return in Sydney
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro made a winning return to the men’s tour as he cleared his first-round hurdle at the Apia International Sydney 2015 – his first win in the last 10 months.
The Argentine giant needed just one hour and 21 minutes to brush aside Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3 7-6 in at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday.
“It was a great moment for me,” an ecstatic Del Potro was quoted as per saying by the ATP World Tour. “I think I played well in my first match after 10 months.
“I served well. My forehand is still working out. So that’s a good signal for the future. I need to work very hard to my backhands and my movements.
“But I think now is time to think about my comeback and enjoy this moment a lot.”
Up next, Del Potro is scheduled to meet top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy in the second round.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
(W) JMD Potro d. S Stakhovsky (6-3, 7-6)
(Q) M Kukushkin d. D Istomin (6-3, 7-6)
V Pospisil d. A Seppi (6-3, 7-6)
(7) J Chardy d. S Querrey (6-4, 6-4)
G Muller d. (W) S Groth (3-6, 6-3, 7-6)
B Tomic d. (Q) I Sijsling (6-1, 6-2)
(Q) V Troicki d. (8) M Klizan (6-2, 6-3)
P Andujar d. (Q) J Nieminen (6-2, 6-2)
(Image: LiveTennis.com)