Miami: Juan Martin Del Potro, only three events into his comeback from left wrist surgery, has booked a second-round date on Friday with fellow on-the-mend star Roger Federer at the Miami Open.
Argentina’s Del Potro defeated countryman Guido Pella 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) on Wednesday in his opening match at the ATP and WTA hardcourt event, advancing to face third-ranked Federer, who underwent knee surgery February 3 and as a seed had a first-round bye.
Federer, winner of a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles, has a 15-5 career record against Del Potro. But the biggest win in the rivalry went to the South American when he outlasted Federer in the 2009 US Open final 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. Federer had won all six matches against Del Potro before that.
While Federer has won their past two meetings, in a 2013 Paris quarter-final and a round-robin match at the 2013 ATP World Finals, it has been since the 2012 London Olympics since they met on an outdoor hardcourt surface as they will Friday.
Del Potro rolled through his first set in 29 minutes, Pella having as many unforced errors, 14, as points in the set. Novak Djokovic will face Britains Kyle Edmund in the second round ón Friday after the 21-year-old dispatched Czech Jiri Vesely 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8/6).
Hradeka downs Candian bouchard
Meanwhile in the women’s category, Czech Republics Lucie Hradeka beat slumping Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Bouchard entered the week ranked 45th in the world, 40 spots higher than Hradeka.
Hradeka set up a match with Belgiums Kirsten Flipkens. Christina McHale outlasted Japans Misaki Doi 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 over two hours and eight minutes in a first-round match. McHale fired eight aces and dropped only seven points on her first serve in the match.
Djokovic mends WTA bridges
Novak Djokovic made peace with Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Serena Williams and others on Wednesday, supporting equal prize money for men and women tennis players after days of controversy.
The world number one from Serbia suggested men attract more spectators and deserved better paydays in remarks Sunday after winning the Indian Wells final.
Djokovic issued an apology of sorts on social media on Tuesday but refused to back down from his remarks, leaving that for his news conference at the ATP and WTA Miami Open, where he is the top seed and defending champion. “I never had an issue with equality in gender or sport or other areas of life,” Djokovic said.
“We all deserve more of the wealth distribution from the tournaments. I feel very sorry if I hurt my female colleague tennis players. I have a huge respect for all of them,” he added.
Djokovic said he had sent messages to Andy Murray, Serena Williams and others who had been critical of his earlier remarks. Djokovic spent 30 minutes before talking to reporters speaking with Billie Jean King and Chris Evert about his comments, saying King was not in a fiery mood after her years fighting for gender equity in prize money.
