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 No 4 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 per cent 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 No 165, 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.
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 No 4 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 in round three after his 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over American Donald Young.
Having been cooped up in the locker rooms for so long because of the rain, some players were particularly keen to make the most of being on court.
Number 10 seed Tomas Berdych rattled through his second-round match with Benjamin Becker in an hour and 24 minutes, winning 6-4 6-1 6-2, with 13 aces and 43 winners.
Also in a hurry was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Juan Monaco 6-1 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 23.
(Guardian service)
