World Tour Finals - Del Potro sneaks through
Eurosport - Thu, 26 Nov 23:23:00 2009
Juan Martin Del Potro qualified for the semi-finals of the World Tour Finals in dramatic circumstances as he beat world number one Roger Federer 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 in London.
With Del Potro securing the win over Federer, it left both of them plus Andy Murray all on two wins and one loss with the sets won and lost ratio at 5-4.
So the workings out came down to games won percentage and with Murray having won one game less that Del Potro, the Scot crashed out leaving Federer to top Group A with Del Potro following him through.
The drama was not over even when the match finished, however, as Del Potro was kept waiting for 15 minutes on the court before being told whether or not he had made it through.
But the Argentine amused himself, and the crowd, by staging an impromptu knock-up with compatriot and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, who happened to be in the crowd.
Del Potro started the match in blistering fashion, breaking in the opening game as Federer, struggling to find his range, slapped a forehand long of the baseline.
Federer did push Del Potro to deuce in his opening service game but a forehand into the net from the world number one ended his attempt to get back on level terms.
From there Del Potro was rarely troubled as he broke again in the fifth game, earning himself the break point chance with a stunning forehand winner before Federer slapped down a second double fault to concede his serve.
Federer did get one game back to force Del Potro to serve out the set, but the US Open champion held his nerve and wrapped things up in the very next game when Federer sent his return of serve into the net.
The second set was much more competitive, with Del Potro enjoying the only break point in just the first game, and a tie-break looked inevitable from very early on.
Del Potro, who was looking for only his second win over Federer in eight meetings, took the early initiative in the breaker, producing a scintillating cross court forehand passing shot and an unreturnable serve to lead by the mini-break at the change of ends.
But Federer, so calm despite the pressure, hit back immediately, levelling up twice before earning himself a set point when Del Potro hit a backhand into the net.
And one chance was all the world number one needed as he raced into the net and buried a cross court forehand volley in the empty court to ensure his progression into the semi-finals.
The final set was understandably tense, although how much either player knew of the possible permutations for qualification is debatable.
Del Potro was forced to save three break points, that would have seen him crash out, in the seventh game but did so with a forehand winner, a Federer backhand error and, most impressively, a 112mph second serve winner that caught the back of the line before going on to hold.
A slack series of points from Federer, including another double fault, helped Del Potro earn himself three break points of his own and the chance to stay alive. The Argentine missed the first with an inside out forehand wide across court but Federer's forehand down the line on the second dropped well wide to allow Del Potro the opportunity to serve for the match.
Another huge second serve that caught the back of the line handed Del Potro a first match point and the Argentine finished things as just he started them; in blistering fashion and with a second serve ace.
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Comment 61 - 80 of 80
Radu - there are no problems here other than your own assumption that Del Potro "should have won". He didn't but luck of the count back worked in his favour. So that's his good fortune. There are no ifs and maybes here, only winners and losers. That's how it works. Erm, not sure where Murray is the best comes from...but he is number 4, so maybe if he doesn't serve like "pants" again, he might have a shot at being number 1 :)
the result of Federer v delporto was carefully orchestrated
to ensure certain players did not reach the semi finals
you're right Hotshot the most hated player on the internet is Mandy Wurray and most people, (even the Brits) are happy he is knocked out BUT you must agree that we should thank Mr Reed for that.
There is only one problem: DelPo should have won the first match against Murray. In this case nobody would have sneaked through and no one would have pretended Murray to be the best. But since DelPo lost by mistake the game against Murray, all the "blind" british tennis fans are now contesting their favourite's sneak out.
The expression "Sneaked in" is based on the counting back of games won and lost. No more. Since the difference was One game, you might even use the expression "squeeked in" :)
The writer here is English folks - and he uses English idiomatic expressions. Don't take things so personally.
Good for you Juan, with the win you got yourself in the semis, pity for Andy though, but that's life, and life is not always fair. But the best man is immer da, he is great and he's and will be, always, number ONE, that's is our wonderful player Roger Federer. Unfortunately for the other players, Roger's opponents' now, in their lifetime there is no topping that. He is "simply the best, better than all the rest".
wendy,
it happened alot the season with Federer in the begining with Murray himself and lost the last set 6-1 with tsonga in motereal with djokovic in basel ,it doesn't seems dtrange for me especially that i know that when federer lpays relaxed he make alot of errors and lose the games in his serve easily as goes with djokovic in basel and benneteu in paris and tsonga etc, it could be that what happened federer knew that only one set qualify him so why he push himself more in the 3rd and lost his energy just for nothing like murray did last year with him so he let it go easily ,,, this could be the case here but i believe that he want to payback murray
Writers, I think Del Potro has nothing to prove against Federa as he has beaten Federa in GS to win the Title. Now he has consolidated that supremacy.. It is Murray and the English Press who need to work had on Murray to overcome Federa in importnat matches. Again Murray has been found wanting to beat Federa at important matches. He handed him the no 1 sport failing to stop him as Del Potro did. Reed was of the opinion that Del sneaked through which is to me arrant nonsence journalism
The writer of this article implies that Del Potro sneaked through expecting Murray hosting the event to have made it. Murray was beaten by federa and Federa Lost to Del Potro. Mathematically, Del Potro was the better player. While Murray is yet to get a GS he will now know how important this title is. The winners are both Slam Champions. Del got a better deal but did not sneak through. He conquered Federa who beat Murray Mr writer. Be objective in reporting.
It seems Federer knew that he required just three games in the final set to remove Murray from the whole equation. Because he really seemed slacked after 3-3. Well, I think Delpo will thrash Soderling in the semis and meet up with Fed again in the final. I bet you know what will happen then: Federer will roast the boy 2 sets to love. But you got to feel sorry for Murray; MR. Reed once again made him the most hated player on the internet and from responses here, most people are happy he is knocked out.
YESSS !!! GREAT DEL POTRO !!! another win over Federer ! fantastic ! COME ON JUAN MARTIN !!!
In all probability, the finals will be between Del Porto and Roger Federer and Porto will not win it.
WHY DIDN'T MURRAY BEAT VERDASCO IN --- 2 SETS .. ?
HE MUST HAVE KNOWN DANGERS
IN THE END IT CONFIRMED GROUP A WAS THE TOUGHEST!! ALL MATCHES DECIDED IN 3 SETS!!
I ALREADY KNEW IT BECAUSE NADAL IS IN GROUP B AND HE WILL MAKE HISTORY TODAY BY GOING HOME WITHOUT WINNING A SINGLE SET!!
I GUESS MR REED HATES ROGER EVEN MORE AFTER LAST NIGHT'S OUTCOME!!
NOW HE AND MANDY MURRAY CAN GO TOGETHER ON VACATIONS AND SHAG EACH OTHERS BUM!!
Fed did it on purpose 'cause Murray & him hate each other.Fed could have won this match if he had broken JMD à 3 all 15/40 in the third but did not make it & then he let it go,it was deliberate.I just wanna say "thank you very much indeed Fed" for kicking out Murray,I'm over the moon,like millions of people:D
Wendy No66, Yes he has (Nadal on a couple occasions).
DEL POTRO TO MEET ROGER IN SUNDAY'S FINAL!! ROGER TO WIN THIS TIME!!
Obviously Feder knew he wouldn't win a 2nd time against Murray who was going to be playing better and better. Federer has always been very unsportsmanlike, never gives any credit to his opponents, it's always what was wrong with him blah, blah. Luckily he's not going to last much longer. Andy Murray did enough to show his qualities and is still improving. He is a modest hard working young man and deserves a lot of credit.
David Franks:
Some footballers make this prize money monthly as a salary,,, consistantly, go to football for your in humane money makering comments.. At least Fed gives some of his money to his charity and has just got a bank involved to sponser him over the next ten years
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