Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro came from a set down to dump top seed Fabio Fognini out of the Sydney International and advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
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The Argentine grand slam champion has won his first two matches in 10 months at the tournament following wrist surgery as he fights his way back to the top echelon of men’s tennis.
Del Potro, a one-time world No.4 but whose ranking has dived to 338 due to his inactivity, defeated the world No18 Italian Fognini 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
“I thought I played better. I feel better on the court, especially in the end of the match,” said Del Potro, who defeated Ukraine’s
Sergiy Stakhovsky in Tuesday’s opening round.
“I serve well, I hit good forehands, and my backhands improved from yesterday to this match a little bit.
“I need to keep playing with these guys, hitting the ball as fast I can and keep trying. My wrist is the same. It’s not getting worse, so I have confidence with that.
"Of course I’m very happy to beat my first top 20 player of the year.”
The Argentine is playing in the Sydney tournament on a wildcard for his first event since last February following an injury-ravaged
2014 season during which he had surgery on his left wrist.
Del Potro grew stronger through the match after receiving treatment on his wrist from the trainer in the opening set, and he looked close to his best form in the deciding set to eliminate Fognini.
Del Potro played down concerns over the treatment he received from the trainer on the court.
“I’m feeling okay. It was nothing dangerous. Because I sweat too much and the tape goes out, but nothing special,” he said. “It’s like spray to keep the tape on.”
The former US Open champion will meet Kazakhstan qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin, who upset Uruguayan sixth seed Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 7-5 in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Tsvetana Pironkova’s stretched her Sydney International winning streak to 14 matches with a straight sets victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to reach the semi-finals.
The Bulgarian, who again had to fight her way through qualifying to reach the main draw, ousted world No.25 Czech 6-4, 6-1.
It continued an amazing run at the tournament by the Bulgarian world No.67, who was a shock winner in 2014 after battling through the three rounds of qualifying to beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber in her eighth match at Sydney Olympic Park.
IN BRIEF:
Novak top seed at Australian Open
World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named the top seeds for next week’s Australian Open, but two-time champion Victoria Azarenka did not make the top 32.
Djokovic is bidding for a fifth title at Melbourne Park after crashing in the quarter-finals last year to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka, while Williamsis gunning for a sixth Australian crown.
Evergreen Roger Federer, who has a record 17 Grand Slam titles, is the second seed ahead of injury-plagued Rafael Nadal, Wawrinka and Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
Maria Sharapova, who won the Brisbane International last weekend, takes the No.2 seeding among the women, ahead of Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Ana Ivanovic. Last year’s champion Li Na has retired.
Nishikori and Verdasco battle the elements
Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco scored a pair of opening victories amid a “little typhoon” to
begin final Australian Open preparations at the Kooyong Classic.
US Open finalist Nishikori fought past a tough Australian challenge from Jordan Thompson to post a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) result
while Verdasco beat Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).
“It was tough for both of us – like a little typhoon out there,” said the Tokyo-born player now based in Florida. “But it was a good match for me: three sets and some good tennis.”
Spaniard Verdasco collected the first set against Simon in 27 minutes and thwarted the Frenchman as Simon served to level at a set each.
“This wind is tough for everyone,” said the Spaniard. “You need to be focused and hit every ball with confidence – if not it flies
everywhere.
Robredo pulls out of Auckland Open
The Auckland Open continued to lose its main drawcards as Spain’s Tommy Robredo pulled out with an injury and top seed
Ernests Gulbis was eliminated by a qualifier.
Robredo became the fourth seeded player to withdraw from the warm-up event for next week’s Australian Open, saying he
had strained a muscle in the gym.
“I wouldn’t be able to play good and the people would be disappointed, also it could make me worse for next week,” the world No.17 said.
Robredo joins world No.10 David Ferrer (back strain), defending champion John Isner (tiredness) and French livewire Gael Monfils (personal reasons) in quitting the tournament.
The remaining seeds fared little better, with world No.13 Gulbis of Latvia losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely. The
event also lost world No.15 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, who retired hurt giving Frenchman Adrian Mannarino a 6-2, 2-1 armchair ride into the quarters.