Del Potro Denies Dimitrov In Rome; Murray Opens Title Defense Tuesday

by Staff | May 15th, 2017, 11:31 pm
  • 13 Comments

Juan Martin del Potro survived a spirited fight from Grigor Dimitrov to advance Monday in Rome with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

After saving break points at in the 4-3 game, Del Potro broke to go up 5-3 then served out the match and improve to 5-0 against the Bulgarian.

“I think I played well during the whole match. I had my break points in the first set, and Grigor played better in that moment. I think he took the opportunities,” del Potro said. “But in the second and in the third I played solid from the baseline. I hit harder with my backhands, and I think my serves helped to win the match.”


The Argentine missed Madrid to attend the funeral of his grandfather. He’ll face Kyle Edmund on Wednesday. Dimitrov has lost eight matches this year, seven of those in deciding sets.

David Goffin and Tomas Berdych were also winners. In a mild upset, Sam Querrey knocked out Lucas Pouille. And Jan-Lennard Struff kept Bernard Tomic reeling with a three set win over the Australian.

On tap Tuesday, defending champion Andy Murray opens play against Italian favorite Fabio Fognini.

“He’s one of the better clay-court players, for sure,” Murray said of Fognini. “He obviously would be highly motivated, I would think, playing in Italy, as well. I have had some tough matches with him in the past, so it won’t be easy. I will definitely need to play well in that one to have a chance of winning.

“That’s definitely a tough one to start off.”

Murray leads Fognini 3-2. They last played in Rio last summer and Murray won in three.

Four-time champion Novak Djokovic returns to take on Brit Aljaz Bedene.

Rafael Nadal will be on court Wednesday.

TUESDAY ROME SCHEDULE
CENTER COURT start 12:00 noon
WTA – [10] M. Keys (USA) vs [Q] D. Gavrilova (AUS)
ATP – [9] D. Goffin (BEL) vs F. Verdasco (ESP)
ATP – [Q] A. Bedene (GBR) vs [2] N. Djokovic (SRB)
Not Before 7:30 pm
WTA – [WC] M. Sharapova (RUS) vs [16] M. Lucic-Baroni (CRO)
Not Before 9:00 pm
ATP – [1] A. Murray (GBR) vs F. Fognini (ITA)

NEXT GEN ARENA start 11:00 am
ATP – [Q] A. Mannarino (FRA) vs P. Cuevas (URU)
ATP – [Q] K. Anderson (RSA) vs [16] A. Zverev (GER)
WTA – [13] K. Mladenovic (FRA) vs J. Goerges (GER)
WTA – K. Siniakova (CZE) vs [7] S. Kuznetsova (RUS)
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP – R. Harrison (USA) vs [6] M. Cilic (CRO)


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13 Comments for Del Potro Denies Dimitrov In Rome; Murray Opens Title Defense Tuesday

gonzalowski Says:

hmm will he be a threat in RG?? I’d be glad for him and the tournament, not good for his comrades, Rafa f.e.


Wog Boy Says:

Kyrgios withdrew, LL Dolgopolov in.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Great match from JMDP. Dmitrov was playing at a very high level- he came in hot, perhaps the 3rd or 4th best on clay thus far? For JMDP to come back from all these absences and take him speaks volumes about his potential.
The best news was, for the first time since his comeback (that I’ve seen), he used the 2H BH predominantly. So he’s not a three-legged horse any longer. He has all his weapons back. That’s bad news for Novak, who I believe he gets in a couple rounds (if Novak gets through Kyrgios).

Is he a threat to Rafa? I don’t think so. Even with JMDP playing well, Rafa should handle him on clay. The biggest threat to Rafa is his own dip, or an inspired Wawrinka or Kyrgios.

Frankly, w Novak and Murray down and out, there is no real threat unless Rafa slows down.

Still, its GREAT to see Del Potro back and clearly already at an elite level. If he can just string a few tournaments in a row!


Lylenubbins Says:

Great to hear Delpo hitting more 2 handers


Willow Says:

Dont know where to put this, but just wanted to say congratulations to David Ferrer on 700 career wins ….


Daniel Says:

Best thing that could happen now is a Mureay x Djoko final. Is about time they deliver and that would make things a bit more interesting for TG with both last years finalist reacjikg a clay final again.

Regardless if Nadal loses tomorrow 6-1, 6-1 (yeah right😜), He will still be heavy favorite for RG La Decima.

Djoko and Murray needs to fire some spark to make it more interestig. Even wawa needs to go deep here also.

Thiem and Goffin already shown they will be in later rounds.
Cherring for DelPo to face Djoko and Wawa and Murray to get some wins also. Tennis needs them all playing well.

Latelly there is beijg paths of dominance: Murray dominated post USO to WTF; Fed dominated AO to Miami; Now Nadal fomiating Clay.


gonzalowski Says:

Fabio crushing the scott


J.S. Says:

WOW Andy is having trouble defending his title…..YIKES!!! Fabio is playing unbelievable, he isn’t missing anything.
Commentator just said “FF out of his mind” “Isn’t this fun”
LOL – Answer is NO, NOT FUN!!

So I am guessing Thiem/Goffin/Nadal and who else is playing well on clay??

What a day for Murray fans :)


gonzalowski Says:

Murray trying, but is not able to attack effectively in anyway. Fabio’s drive awesome.

Pietrangeli and Lea Pericoli, as always, at the grandstand of Pista Centrale.


J-Kath Says:

J.S.

I would have been surprised if Andy won this match. Fabio has always presented a challenge to Andy, especially on clay – and now Andy with his shingles (and elbow?) is far from the Andy we were accustomed to last year. Don’t know what Lendal can do but hope something.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Another week off tour… another week of Fed gaining points on the #1.


J.S. Says:

J-Kath
I love me some Andy, of course after Rafa!!! But, that was crazy stuff……
I felt bad for him on his B-Day


Daniel Says:

Murray 4-4 this clay season. Can’t see him doing anything different in RG.

He should focus on grass and build his confidence there to try defend his Wimbledon. He is always top 3 favorites for Wimbledon.

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