Del Potro Wins Basel Opener, Faces Goffin; 3 US Open Champions In Action Thursday

by Staff | October 26th, 2016, 7:25 pm
  • 56 Comments

Two-time tournament champion Juan Martin del Potro got off to a positive start in Basel easing past the ailing Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4 to advance to a second round showdown against David Goffin.

“This year is very special,” I’m just trying to enjoy all my matches,” del Potro said. “My wrist is OK. My biggest goal for this year is to finish healthy and then, if I’m still winning matches, that would be great.”

Post-Wimbledon, the 42nd-ranked del Potro is 16-3 and he’s won his last six matches.


Goffin, who had a day off today, beat del Potro earlier this month in three sets in Shanghai.

In other first round play, Jack Sock continued his good run beating Adrian Mannarino, Mischa Zverev ousted Taylor Fritz and Guido Pella got through after Richard Gasquet had to retire due to an abdominal injury in the second set.

Also, Kei Nishikori advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over Paolo Lorenzi.

On Thursday, top seed and home favorite Stan Wawrinka is back to face American qualifier Donald Young and fellow US Open Marin Cilic is also on court against Pablo Carreno Busta.

THURSDAY BASEL SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 1:00 pm
[1] J. Rojer (NED) / H. Tecau (ROU) vs T. Huey (PHI) / M. Mirnyi (BLR)

Not Before 3:00 pm
[4] M. Cilic (CRO) vs P. Carreno Busta (ESP)

Not Before 5:00 pm
[5] D. Goffin (BEL) vs [WC] J. del Potro (ARG)

Not Before 7:00 pm
[1] S. Wawrinka (SUI) vs [Q] D. Young (USA)
[Q] M. Zverev (GER) vs G. Pella (ARG)


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56 Comments for Del Potro Wins Basel Opener, Faces Goffin; 3 US Open Champions In Action Thursday

Giles Says:

Absolutely disgusting from Delpo. Now I know why I dislike him!! 😩🙄😡


Willow Says:

I Personally always did like Delpo, well sorry to say not anymore now, it appears the guys not as saintly as some people make him out to be, what a foul mouth, sorry Emily if your reading ….


J-Kath Says:

Giles and Willow: Absolutely agree – has any player ever said anything as disgusting? Willow, you mentioned Emily….I thought Stan was her favourite?


Willow Says:

J-Kath has any player said anything so disgusting ?. hmm dont know, not to my knowledge, not even Kyrigios lol, ive lost all respect for this guy now, about Emily i believe Stan and Delpo are both her favorites, i like Stan though ….


J-Kath Says:

Me too – I like Stan.


Okiegal Says:

Remember when DelPo said something negative about Judy to Andy?? It was a big deal at the time…..but I guess Andy forgave him……So it seems DelPo likes to pick on the Mums…..not a wise thing to do….he will get unpopular in a hurry…..ask Trump! Not nice to pick on us women folk……..Don’t men know that??? Lol 😠😠😠


Giles Says:

He might be a woman hater?


chrisford1 Says:

J-Kath – you have lived in the UK and others have spent time in Latin America and Europe where the population uses the “C-word with regularity, in English or other language equivalent. Where it is on par with guys being subjected to the “D-word” And no one falls in fainting shock from being shaken to their core in outrage the “C-word” is almost as ubiquitous athe N-word is between lower class thug blacks in America.
As for Andy, he does get angry when Judy is cussed at, but only because he believes he alone gets to call her a loud mouthed freaking B-word who needs to be screamed at to F-ing shut up when she rides him too hard.


Daniel Says:

Is similar to a “son of a b@#$%^” Everybody is guilty of saying it eventually. It just sounds worst in a mic on court.

Nothing out of the world as a curse. Heard worst, way worse;-)


Willow Says:

I Think the point is Delpo used expletives in the most disgusting way against a fellow players mother, which is the lowest of the low, yet people say hes such a lovely, sweet, innocent guy, and butter wouldnt melt, the tree of tandil, the fluffy cuddly teddy bear, etc etc yeah right, well it turns out he isnt so nice after all ….


Van Persie Says:

Agree with CF1 and Daniel here. The funny thing is that they have translated this curse in English and it sounds much worse, because it is not an usual curse for the Germanic languages. This curse is very common in Romance languages. Daniel explained very well which is the proper English equivalent : “son of a b@#$%^” .

Then, of course, it was not nice from DelPo to use it, but I will quote Daniel again: it is “Nothing out of the world”.


Okiegal Says:

Inexcusable! I liked this guy, but I’m off of him like a dirty shirt!


Wog Boy Says:

CF1, Daniel and VP,

Agree, my understanding is that it is curse that is not aimed directly at mother, it is so common in Serbian too, very very similar to what Daniel explained. You people made a mountain out of a mole.


Danica Says:

Have to agree with those who don’t see this as a big deal. Some things you just cannot translate literally in English. They come out waaay worse than meant. Like WB said, we have it in Serbian, very similar, both “mother” and “c***” word mentioned in the same sentence but it’s has nothing to do with one’s mother. To be honest, I am more troubled by the things I heard from the English speakers, in English, so no lost in translation excuse. Say, Mrs. Andy Murray at the match with Berdych.


Travis Bickle Says:

Danica,

Did you mean “Czech flash f*ck”, as eloquently spoken by sweet English lady Kim Sears?
Well, Berdych is a Czech, he is flashy, and Kim would like to f*ck him… So I find her phrase justified and perfectly logical ;-)

On a serious note, Murray’s daughter will curse like a truck driver by the time she is 6. That home must resonate with foul language. Poor girl…


J-Kath Says:

Chrisford 1

I have spent more of my life outside of the UK than in it and mixed and worked with people of multiple nationalities. But this is not about me or what I’m accustomed to or otherwise. Originally I posted the link for others to comment if they wished. I remain with the belief that this is the worst thing a player can do/say against another player during a match.


Willow Says:

Well i can just imagine him saying that on a football field to the likes of Vinny Jones or Joey Barton, as one would be grabbing him by his unmentionables, and he would be recieving a Glasgow kiss from the other, and i wouldnt blame either of them, and i hate violence ….


Willow Says:

Danica each to their own, personally ive never believed two wrongs make a right, that goes for Delpo, Kim or whomever, or in whatever language they do it in either ….


Margot Says:

Lol I don’t remember Kim rushing onto court and screaming those words AT Berd. Unlike JMDP, Kim made her comments in an aside in the support box. They too were picked up by an on court mike.
Double standards operating here.


Margot Says:

Danica: does the “c” word also mean a specific part of the female anatomy, in Serbian?


Willow Says:

Margot true, i dont condone what Kim said, but your right theres a big difference in the situations between her and Delpo ….


J-Kath Says:

And, we’re talking about players on court, not about their support teams – otherwise why not discuss Roger’s support team…….etc.?


Willow Says:

J-Kath right on, theres a big difference ….


Wog Boy Says:

Margot,

I hope Danica doesn’t mind if I answer you. Yes, “C” word in Serbian means excatly the same as in English, means “va£ina”, but Serbian language is very rich, particularly in that part, so we have numerous variations of tha word and using it accordingly depends of situations.
For example, if you listen JJ when she plays and is not in a good mood (meaning losing), she would turn often to her brother in the box saying:

“Ma idi bre u pizdu materinu”, “Cuti jebem ti mater” ans so on, JJ is master in that field

In these sentences we have “C” world used together with “mother”, now, if we don’t know that his mother is JJ”s mother too and translate it literally it would sounds awfully offensive, but if you know Serbian and the way it is used you would know it is not, you just can’t translate it literally.


Wog Boy Says:

About Kim, her comments were highly offensive and chauvinistic, full stop.

Can you imagine if on the receiving end was a f..ing Jew and not just a f..ing Czech, I am sure Queen Elizabeth together with British Prime minister would have to fork out an apology..


Wog Boy Says:

^^^ and it wasn’t lost in translation, it was clear for everyone to hear…and understand.


jalep Says:

Sorry, but I have to weigh in and agree with Wog Boy and Danica. There is too much lost in translation and too wide a difference in common usage of such an insult from our norms and theirs. Before traveling and staying in Argentina I bought a book called “Mierda” and it was all about insulting and using expletives, as in street talk in the region. What’s taboo here for slander isn’t quite taboo there or of the same gravity there and vice versa.

That said, I’m sorry the gentle giant let it fly. But anyways…

Margot, I was so sorry to see that Khachanov lost today. I quite like his tennis and manners on court.


jalep Says:

And I’m only commenting on Delpo’s incident.

Not commenting on Kim’s or anyone else’s here.


Willow Says:

Jalep sorry have to disagree, but i do like you so ill say no more on the subject, so please dont hate me ….


Danica Says:

Indeed double standards here. Because what Kim said is today deemed to be racist. Doesn’t matter where and when it was said, she is a public figure, at a very public venue and it was not okay. She should have known better. Yes, mics are everywhere. The fact that she put on that cheesy t-shirt a day after, didn’t make it right. Roger’s support team screamed “cry baby” which was not okay either but hardly that offensive. DelPo swore, like so many of them, in the heat of the moment thinking none of it.

I also thought of JJ when actually read this story as she uses those expletives that someone could translate and think offensive to woman. They are not, they are just swear words, not nice, not lady like for sure, but not geared toward insulting anyone’s parent.

Simply, not okay either to translate something that cannot be translated literally.


jalep Says:

Don’t hate me either and you know for me to agree with Wog Boy isn’t something I like to do! Of course I don’t hate you. We don’t have to agree on everything — it would be impossible, probably.

I still support Nick Kyrgios too — he’s been pretty appalling. But I really do understand this mother insulting thing is used and seen differently in Latin America. I don’t know about in Serbian but I have laughed pretty hard at the difference from mere and south of the border America.


jalep Says:

meant….mere = here, the difference from here, the pacific northwest USA and South America.


Willow Says:

Cheers ;-)) ….


jalep Says:

Cheers Willow! Delpo and Kei are in a battle. I love both these guys. But I picked Delpo to win Basel.


Willow Says:

Jalep Kei is one of my favorites after Rafa and Andy, i think JMDP will beat him though, as his serve can be a bit of a liability, and i think he will have trouble dealing with those huge returns of Delpos ….


Margot Says:

Many players use bad language on court. Not condoning it BTW but I do know if you swear in English you get far more criticism than if you swear in another language. This is a fact.


jalep Says:

Are you watching the match?


jalep Says:

Margot picked Kei. My reason for picking Delpo to win Basel was for him to get his ranking into the 20’s — thought he’d be keen to win this.


jalep Says:

Indeed, if you swear in English you are busted. When Jelena Jankovic goes off, I know she’s using bad language but not the details of what it is. Fabio Fognini…he’s another offender.

Kei is serving clutch big time. Refusing to be broken. Gosh I love Kei Nishikori.


Margot Says:

jalep, even I know enough Spanish and French to know when Ferrer and Simon are swearing and its – often!
And who knows what Nole said in that explosion at Madrid?
I think Andy should learn to swear in Gaelic.


Margot Says:

jap, just watched Kei win. I didn’t pick JMDP because, like Willow, I’m not convinced he’s up to full fitness yet.


jalep Says:

Congratulations Margot, That was a beautiful win by Kei Nishikori — and I hope he goes on to win Basel!

Karen Khachanov (quite liked your pick) acquitted himself quite well vs Dr. Ivo but just couldn’t quite do it.


jalep Says:

Kei was swearing like a sailor while winning that match. In English the F word. And who knows what in Japanese!


Margot Says:

Yeah, I do like Khachanov. Jeepers tho., Dr Ivo still going, he must be drawing his pension these days :0
Used to think Kei was pretty perfect on court but after that 15 minute toilet break against Rafa, not so much and NOW SWEARING OMG!


jalep Says:

Guessing Delpo is swearing again somewhere about losing to Kei! Surprised he’s not on the list to play Paris. I’m sure that’s about being healthy for DC… but he could use the ranking points from playing Paris.


Margot Says:

Is he 26ish jalep? Time is on his side, if yes. Am sure Davis Cup is his priority. Good luck to him, it didn’t do Andy any favours last Summer.


jalep Says:

No. He needed to at least get to the Basel final, Margot. Stuck at #37. http://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-race


jalep Says:

LOL, Dr. Ivo. He’s up to #20. And he knocked Sascha back two places.
Manwerty will be happy.


Willow Says:

Really didnt expect Kei to beat Delpo, as i thought he would have trouble returning that serve ….


jalep Says:

Ruthless Kei went after Delpo’s backhand and was great on ROS. Delpo served 14 aces but he needed more because Kei was rock solid serving and on big points too – look at break points saved.
http://www.flashscore.com/match/AcCq9lMS/#match-summary

Evidently Kei was motivated to get his first ever win over Delpo. I didn’t expect Kei to win either, Willow. Maybe a set. But not win.

Nice win for Andy. Stan the man is having trouble with the older Zverev doing his old school serve and volleying.


jalep Says:

Adios Stan. He doesn’t come to play in Basel like he does at a GS.
Congrats to Mischa! :D


Willow Says:

Jalep great win for Kei over a Delpo in such as rich vein of form, Andy seems to riding on the crest of a wave, would love it to continue, Stans a bit of a puzzler though, i like him and he has a beautiful game, but you dont know which Stan will turn up from one day to the next ….


Willow Says:

Wonder if we will get a repeat of the 2014 USO final between Kei and Cilic ? ….


jalep Says:

It will be interesting to see who can beat Mischa Zverev! Cilic has to beat Marcel Granollers first and if Kei performs like today, he certainly should beat Muller, Cilic, or Mischa…but I don’t know. I hope Kei wins Basel!


Willow Says:

True, true all true ….

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