Juan Martin del Potro is becoming more and more of a serial offender. The Argentinean, shining champion of Indian Wells a good week ago, went through his 13th season. a consecutive victory in the round of 16 in Miami. Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria), on the other hand, finished in third place in the third round.
Del Potro (No. 5) managed an average performance against the former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori in just under 73 minutes at a clear 6:2, 6:2. The Japanese player in 26th place, however, was not aware of the lack of match practice. Among other things, he faced 13 break points – of which only four were used by “Delpo”.
About half a year ago Nishikori could not think of tennis. During the training for the ATP Masters in Cincinnati, the 28-year-old was seriously injured on his wrist, only a specialist from Belgium made the continuation of his career possible: “It felt as if my wrist would break,” said the folk hero.
Del Potro, who celebrated his sixth success in his eighth duel with the Asian, feels at home in Florida. This is also due to the many South American fans on the grounds in Crandon Park: “It’s a special tournament for me. It’s the last time the event will be played here in Key Biscayne, so I’d like to stay a few more days,” said the 29-year-old, who had also triumphed in Acapulco before the Indian Wells coup.
Starting next year, the million-dollar spectacle will no longer take place on Key Biscayne Island, but in the Hard Rock Stadium – the home of the NFL team Miami Dolphins. Del Potro had reached the semi-finals in Miami in 2009, in the last 16 rounds the world number six will meet Serbian Filip Krajinovic (No. 22) on Tuesday.
Grigor Dimitrov, however, will not remember the two Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (first-round K,o.) and Miami. The 2017 ATP World Champion missed the leap into the round of 16 with a 4-6, 4-6 duel with Jeremy Chardy. Dimitrov had lost to the 31-year-old Frenchman, number 90 in the ranking, seven years ago. Chardy now has to deal with the Canadian Milos Raonic (7:6, 6:3 against Diego Schwartzman/Argentina).
Australian open finalist Marin Cilic (Croatia/No. 2), who defeated the Canadian Vasek Pospisil under Rainer Schüttler and Dirk Hordorff 7:5, 7:6 (7:4), did not show any nausea. Cilic will now face John Isner (USA/No. 14) in a duel in the round of 16.