Juan Martin del Potro entered the second round of the Queen’s Club Championships for the first time since 2013 after a 7-5, 6-4 success over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in London yesterday.
Both players were due to play on Tuesday but rain had forced the tournament to abandon all matches in a washout for only the third time in 18 years.
The 30-year-old Argentinian was strong behind his serve, hitting 11 aces in the match, while Shapovalov lost control in crucial rallies to gift del Potro a break in each set.
“It’s been a long time without playing this tournament, so happy to be here after so many years,” Del Potro told British broadcaster BBC, after completing his first match at Queen’s for three years.
“I’m excited to keep playing, keep winning in a fantastic stay in London,” he added.
Shapovalov, who was in his first-ever meeting with Del Potro, surrendered the first break in the eleventh game as he capped a series of errors with a double-fault.
Del Potro consolidated the advantage by firing down his seventh ace to seal the first set.
Two netted backhands from the 20-year-old Shapovalov gave Del Potro the match-winning break for a 3-2 advantage in the second set.
The world number 12 looked in pain after he slipped and bent his knee at the net going for a winner. He clutched his leg following the volley that stretched his lead to 5-3.
Del Potro was sidelined with a knee injury after fracturing his patella last October but he says everything is in order for him to play more matches, even though his knee still requires careful attention.
“I just want to keep playing tennis. This life means everything and I want to be here longer,” Del Potro said.
“Now my body is okay and I can play on different surfaces but I’m still needing treatments to get better. At the moment, I am fine.”
The Rio 2016 silver medallist opened up match point with a fierce forehand, while Shapovalov dumped a return into the net to confirm his exit after 76 minutes in the British capital.
Del Potro will play Andy Murray’s doubles partner Feliciano Lopez in round two, hoping to build on his successful start at the Wimbledon warm-up event.
Lopez, who was Queen’s champion in 2017, battled back from a set down to defeat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 before rain continued to frustrate the schedule.
Frenchman Jeremy Chardy also managed to secure his second round place before the covers came onto the courts, with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin.
Swiss star Stan Wawrinka’s match with Britain’s Dan Evans was stopped by the weather with Wawrinka leading 5-3 after 34 minutes.
Play later resumed after a nearly three-hour suspension, and Wawrinka registered a 6-3, 6-4 straight sets victory.
Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in action during his match against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov yesterday. (Reuters)
