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By Chris Oddo | Saturday March 17, 2018

 
Del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro eased past Milos Raonic to book a spot alongside Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open final.

Photo Source: Harry How/Getty

Juan Martin del Potro became the second Argentine to crack the 400-win mark and will play for his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday against Roger Federer.

More: Federer Comes Back from Set and Break Down to Defeat Coric

The Argentinean powerhouse rolled past Milos Raonic, 6-2, 6-3, to earn his 10th consecutive victory and join legend Guillermo Vilas (929 wins) in the 400-win club.

Del Potro’s well-publicized journey back to the top of tennis has been an arduous one. The 29-year-old has undergone four different surgeries to his wrists, but almost two years into his comeback he continues to show more and more flashes of the daunting player he once was.

Del Potro didn’t need to bring much of that blossoming A game today to take down Raonic, he was in control from the onset and never faced a break point. He dropped just eight points on serve and was able to break the once lethal service game of Raonic four times on five opportunities.

Former World No.3 Raonic knows a thing or two about injuries as well. He had a wrist surgery last season and has been hampered by injuries for the better part of two years. Working with new coach Goran Ivanisevic he showed nice improvement this week to reach his first Masters semifinal in nearly two years.


Del Potro cracked 15 winner against just eight unforced errors; Raonic struck 14 winners against 19 unforced.

29-year-old Del Potro has never won a Masters 1000 title and he will make a first appearance in a Masters 1000 final since he was runner-up at Indian Wells in 2013. He will face Federer for the 25th time and bid for his 7th career win against the Swiss.

Del Potro defeated Federer at last year’s U.S. Open but has lost two straight to Federer since.

Something will have to give on Sunday as Federer is riding a 17-match winning streak to start the season while Del Potro has now won 10 straight.

 

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