By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 16, 2016
A defiant Juan Martin del Potro withstood 35 aces from Andy Murray fighting back for a gripping 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 triumph in the Davis Cup semifinals.
Photo credit: @DavisCup
Grunting with determination after five hours of frenetic play, Andy Murray ran corner-to-corner sprints with all the urgency of a lifeguard rushing to save a series of trouble swimmers.
Juan Martin del Potro calmly thumped a smash into the corner to end the chase.
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In an exhilarating duel, del Potro played with command on crucial points withstanding 35 aces from Murray posting a dramatic 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 triumph in the opening match of Argentina's Davis Cup semifinal against host Great Britain.
The victory earned the respect of the 8,200 fans packed inside Glasgow's Emirates Arena as fans showered both men with applause after a grueling and gripping match that spanned five hours, seven minutes.
It was the longest match of both players' careers and certainly one of the most memorable. Del Potro is the first man to defeat Murray in a Davis Cup match played on British soil, the only blight on Murray's 20-1 home record.
Snapping a streak of seven straight five-set losses, a dauntless del Potro staked Argentina to an early lead with a spirited comeback.
"I'm so happy to be playing tennis again," del Potro told the crowd afterward. "(After) surgeries on my wrist I cannot imagine this moment for my career. This kind of moment was what I was missing at home during rehab. I always play good in Great Britain it's a good place for my tennis."
It's been a great place for Murray, who won Wimbledon in July and carried a 29-2 Davis Cup career singles record onto court in this rematch of the Rio Olympics gold-medal match.
Del Potro, who converted six of 20 break points in the match, broke for a 4-3 first-set lead.
The 2009 US Open champion cracked an ace down the middle sealing the 57-minute opening set.
Swooping forward, Murray knocked off a high forehand volley for set point in the 12th game of the second set. A terrific baseline exchange ensued and when del Potro scattered a crosscourt backhand wide, the Scot raised a clenched fist leveling for Great Britain.
A disconsolate del Potro bounced a ball high off the court in disgust complaing that calls from the crowd during the rally were a distraction. Chair umpire Pascal Maria addressed the crowd after the set imploring fans to keep it down while the ball is in play.
Del Potro clubbed a forehand down the line breaking again for a 4-3 third-set lead, but the world No. 64 could not hold the lead. Playing energetic defense, Murray worked the angles shrewdly to fight back.
Serving for the set at 5-4, del Potro held set point when Murray raced right and lifted a dazzling diagonal lob winner over his 6-foot-6 opponent to save set point. Poking a pass up the line, Murray broke. Minutes later he snatched a set that seemed out of reach.
Two keys to this match were del Potro's devastating forehand and his guts to deliver massive strikes when he needed them most.
Del Potro pounded his 14th ace for a 5-2 fourth-set lead. Serving to force the fifth set, del Potro denied Murray's attempt to exploint his backhand charging forward and behind low for a fine angled touch volley winner to force the fifth set.
The second-ranked Scot slid a serve winner to save break point, eventually holding for 3-2.
Two games later, del Potro was banging on the break door again. This time, he battered it down with a brilliant drive. Down love-40, Murray saved a pair of break points then stormed net for a high forehand volley.
Anticipating the shot, del Potro was running before the ball left Murray's strings. Darting right, del Potro was off the doubles alley when he drilled a forehand pass down the line breaking for 5-3.
Murray slid his 35th ace to save match point as he held for 4-5.
Ruthlessly running his opponent side-to-side, del Potro pounded the smash for two more match points.
Del Potro slashed his 19th ace to end the gripping drama leaping into the arms of his teammates in celebration concluding a match of staggering quality and stunning shot-making.
"I'm so tired," del Potro said afterward. "My legs are so tight, but I always have a good massage and good shower. And I will be ready for tomorrow or after tomorrow."
Murray made history defeating del Potro in last month's gold-medal match to become the first man in history to successfully defend the Olympic gold medal.
Fighting fiercely throughout today's rematch, del Potro scored a milestone victory continuing his own golden summer that has seen him take down the world's Top 4 players. Del Potro stopped Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon before defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 14-time Grand Slam champion at the Rio Olympics.