London: Juan Martin del Potro admitted he felt alive again after the injury-plagued former US Open champion sent Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka crashing out of Wimbledon on Friday. On a day when rain caused a four-hour delay on the outside courts, forcing organisers to consider playing on the middle Sunday for the first time since 2004, the giant Del Potro shone beneath the Centre Court roof.
His 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 second round victory over Wawrinka brought back memories of his stunning US Open win in 2009 before a series of wrist injuries pushed him to the brink of retirement. The world number 165 from Argentina, who was a semi-finalist in 2013 in what was his last appearance at Wimbledon, next faces either French 32nd seed Lucas Pouille or Donald Young of the United States.
Del Potro is playing in his first major since the Australian Open in 2014 after undergoing three wrist surgeries. “It feels amazing, it’s a great sensation. I enjoyed the crowd. It’s an incredible feeling, that’s why my hands are still shaking,” said the 27-year-old. “I feel alive again. After sitting at home for two years, this feels like a second or third career,” added the former world number four.
Wawrinka, a quarter-finalist in 2014 and 2015, fired 47 winners past Del Potro but was undone by 48 unforced errors. Meanwhile, Wimbledon suffered a third day of rain delays. Only one minute of action was possible on the outside courts in the first four hours while most players didn’t get beyond warming up. The tournament already had a backlog of 16 second round ties and with more rain expected Saturday, organisers admitted that play may take place on Sunday for the first time since 2004 and only the third time overall.
“Sunday play is being considered but a decision won’t be made until tomorrow,” a spokesman said. All men’s second round doubles matches were reduced to best of three sets rather than five. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer can take a step closer to a Wimbledon semi-final duel when they battle for places in the last-16 later Friday. Defending champion and top seed Djokovic, bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title and fourth in total, takes on America’s Sam Querrey.
Victory will give the Serb a 31st successive Grand Slam win taking him level with Rod Laver on the all-time list, six behind the record set by Don Budge in 1938. Djokovic has an 8-1 career record over the 28-year-old Querrey who has only reached the fourth round on one occasion, back in 2010.
