Two former US Open Champions, Del Potro and Stosur, who have not reached the dizzy heights of their first and only Major successes since, were victorious in the second week of the US Open series, igniting hope in their fan bases that repeat success in New York may not be that far-fetched.
Del-Potro took his third Washington trophy, coming back from a set down against John Isner, the winner of last week’s Atlanta tournament. The American rode his fine form to a set lead but Del Potro is the better all-rounder and his superior back court game and big match play made the difference. The Argentine broke Isner in the second set and then knuckled down to claim the match.
The win is Del Potro’s first in the US Open series since his run to the US Open title in 2009. That year in NYC Del Potro put together back to back victories over Nadal and Federer, the first man to achieve that feat. The courage and play that had seen him win the title put great expectations on the unassuming Giant, but a wrist injury and a premature return to the tour in Melbourne 2010 meant that his 2010 season was a disappointment. It took until 20011 for the Argentine to start to play well again. Slowly, Juan-Martin re-established himself and by the end of 2012, wins over Federer in Basel and London suggested Del Potro would be a threat again in 2013. His run to this season’s Indian Wells final and the great performance he gave against Djokovic in the Wimbledon semis was evidence that such speculation was justified.
The win in Washington will do wonders for Del Potro’s US Open hopes. The US Open, like the French Open, has a build up to it with five weeks of tournaments. While Del Potro will be careful not to peak too soon, five weeks is just enough time to get some form going and get match fit. It will also add to his reputation. Players will definitely be a bit more nervy against a confident Del Potro in New York, his impressive 2009 run still memorable, and any aura he can start to form now will definitely be worth a couple of easy sets in the early rounds.
Sam Stosur tasted success in the US Open more recently than Del Potro, in 2011. Since then, saying she has been slumping is somewhat euphemistic. Like many first time slam winners this last decade, Stosur has suffered from the shock of achieving an unexpected feat that propels an otherwise unheralded singles player into the elite and into the spotlight. She has been the victim of many an upset, has seen her ranking plummet out the top ten, and her Major winning status has not put an end to her choking away big matches in Majors but has increased the media vitriol that comes with such losses. So, after not reaching a semi-final this season, her last eight win over number four Radwanska and her final win over Azarenka will have raised her spirits just in time for her return to the Major where she beat none other than Serena Williams.
Stosur’s win over Azarenka, a clinical and clear cut straight sets victory 6-2, 6-3, where her serve, slice and big forehand were at their most effective, will have warned the rest of the field that if they are at all below-par then Stosur is still able to zone in and find the game that saw her dismantle Williams that dreamlike day two seasons back.
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