Serena Williams, the top seed, came back from a set down in her Roland Garros quarterfinal against the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, to win 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The Italian Sara Errani, the No. 5 seed, beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, the No. 4 seed, 6-4, 7-6(6) to advance to the semifinals.
Williams and Errani will face off on Thursday to determine who will be in the final.
[divider]
Click here to discuss the Serena Williams/Errani SF on our discussion boards.
[divider]
Court Philippe Chatrier – 2:00 PM
Sara Errani (ITA) (5) def. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) (4) 6-4 7-6(6)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) (6) def. Roger Federer (SUI) (2) 7-5 6-3 6-3
[divider]
Court Suzanne Lenglen – 2:00 PM
Serena Williams (USA) (1) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 6-1 3-6 6-3
David Ferrer (ESP) (4) def. Tommy Robredo (ESP) (32) 6-2 6-1 6-1
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (10) / Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) (10) def. Oksana Kalashnikova (GEO) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) 6-1 6-1
[divider]
Court 1 – Not Before: 12:00 PM
Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) def. Christopher Kas (GER) / Oliver Marach (AUT) 1-0 Ret.
Not Before: 3:00 PM
Pablo Cuevas (URU) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. Tomasz Bednarek (POL) / Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1
Not Before: 5:00 PM
Michael Llodra (FRA) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) (2) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (2) 6-3 1-6 6-3
[divider]
Court 2 – 11:00 AM
Alexander Peya (AUT) (7) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (7) def. Ivan Dodig (CRO) (12) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (12) 6-4 6-4
Not Before: 12:00 PM
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (11) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) (11) def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) (7) / Sania Mirza (IND) (7) 7-6(0) 3-5 Ret.
Liezel Huber (USA) (8) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (8) def. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Leander Paes (IND) 7-5 6-7(1) [10-2]
Not Before: 5:00 PM
Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) def. Janette Husarova (SVK) / Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-3 6-1
[divider]
Click here to discuss the Federer/Tsonga QF on our discussion boards.
Click here to discuss the Ferrer/Robredo QF on our discussion boards.
Click here to discuss the Serena Williams/Kuznetsova QF on our discussion boards.
Click here to discuss the Radwanska/Errani QF on our discussion boards.
Seven-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, of Spain, the No. 3 seed, faced off against the highest ranked player ever from Japan, Kei Nishikori, the No. 13 seed, and prevailed 6-4, 6-1, 6-3. Nadal is seeking a record eighth French Open title.
Tommy Haas, at 35, is the oldest man to reach the QFs of the French Open since 1971. He survived a 5-setter against John Isner to get to Mikhail Youzhny today, whom he beat in straight sets. He’ll face Novak Djokovic in the next round. The last time they played was in March at the Miami Masters, when the German upset Djokovic 6-2, 6-4. Haas, coming back from injury several times, has twice been named Comeback Player of the Year, including last year.
Djokovic, the No. 1 seed, rebounded after losing the first set, beating the German Philipp Kohlschreiber, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
In the last men’s match of the day, the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka (No. 9) came back from two sets down to defeat Richard Gasquet, of France, the No. 7 seed, 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 8-6.
[divider]
Victoria Azarenka, the No. 3 seed from Belarus, made quick work of the Italian former Roland Garros Champion, Francesca Schiavone, easily beating her 6-3, 6-0.
The Russian Maria Kirilenko (12) beat the veteran Bethanie Mattek-Sands, of the United States.
Maria Sharapova, the No. 2 seed and defending champion, dispatched Sloane Stephens, the No. 17 seed, 6-4, 6-3. Stephens was one of three women from the United States to make it to the Round of 16.
Jelena Jankovic, of Serbia, the No. 18 seed, beat Jamie Hampton, 6-0, 6-2, securing the final spot in the women’s quarterfinals.
[divider]
[divider]
Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 AM
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) (3) def. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-3 6-0
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (16) 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (3) def. Kei Nishikori (JPN) (13) 6-6 6-1 6-3
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (2) def. Sloane Stephens (USA) (17) 6-4 6-3
[divider]
Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 AM
Tommy Haas (GER) (12) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) (29) 6-1 6-1 6-3
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) (12) def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 7-5 6-4
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (9) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) (7) 6-7(5) 4-6 6-4 7-5 8-6
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (18) def. Jamie Hampton (USA) 6-0 6-2
[divider]
Court 1 – 11:00 AM
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (2) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) (2) def. Shuai Zhang (CHN) (13) / Jie Zheng (CHN) (13) 6-3 7-6(0)
Alexander Peya (AUT) (7) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (7) def. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 6-3 7-5
Michael Llodra (FRA) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA) def. Treat Huey (PHI) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) 6-3 6-4
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (5) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) def. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) 7-5 6-4
[divider]
Court 2 – Not Before: 12:00 PM
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (10) / Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) (10) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 7-5 6-7(6) 6-0
Cara Black (ZIM) / Marina Erakovic (NZL) def. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) / Samantha Stosur (AUS) 6-4 7-5
Tomasz Bednarek (POL) / Jerzy Janowicz (POL) def. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) / Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-4 6-4
[divider]
Court 3 – Not Before: 12:00 PM
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Saisai Zheng (CHN) def. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) / Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 7-6(3) 6-3
Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) def. Julie Coin (FRA) / Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-0 6-1
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Frantisek Cermak (CZE) def. Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Filip Polasek (SVK) 7-6(3) 3-6 [10-5]
Cara Black (ZIM) / Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) vs. Nadia Petrova (RUS) / Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) 7-6(5) 6-3
[divider]
Court 7 – 11:00 AM
David Marrero (ESP) (8) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (8) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) / Andre Sa (BRA) 6-2 6-2
Pablo Cuevas (URU) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) (6) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) (6) 5-7 6-3 7-6(5)
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (2) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (2) def. Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Robert Farah (COL) 6-3 6-4
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) (7) / Sania Mirza (IND) (7) def. Lauren Davis (USA) / Megan Moulton-Levy (USA) 1-6 6-3 6-0
[divider]
Tommy Robredo, the 31-year-old Spaniard, came back from two sets down today, to beat fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro, 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
It was Robredo’s third five-setter in a row, each time losing the first two sets. In the second round he beat Igor Sijsling, of the Netherlands, 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1; in the third round the Spaniard beat local favorite Frenchman Gael Monfils, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2.
David Ferrer, also of Spain, made quick work of taking down the tall South African Kevin Anderson, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
Robredo and Ferrer will now face off in the quarterfinals, thus guaranteeing at least one Spaniard making it through to the semis.
The Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No. 6 seed, beat Viktor Troicki, of Serbia, in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
In the final men’s match of the day, Roger Federer, the No. 2 seed, and former Roland Garros champion, had to go five sets against the Frenchman Gilles Simon (15), before sealing the victory, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. After winning the first set, the Swiss played a sloppy second and third sets, before rebounding in the fourth, eventually closing it out 6-3 in the fifth.
[divider]
Former Roland Garros champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat the German Angelique Kerber, the No. 8 seed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday afternoon, becoming the first woman to advance to the French Open quarterfinals. It was a significant victory for the unseeded Russian, who had recently lost a long three-setter to Kerber in Madrid.
Next up on Court Philippe Chatrier was the No. 1 seed, Serena Williams, also a former French Open champion, who beat the No. 15 seed, the Italian Roberta Vinci, 6-1, 6-3, setting the stage for the first women’s quarterfinal.
The Italian Sara Errani (5) defeated Carla Suarez Navarro (20) of Spain, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The final spot in the quarterfinals was determined when Agnieszka Radwanska (4), of Poland, beat the former French Open champion Ava Ivanovic (14), 6-2, 6-4.
[divider]
[divider]
Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 AM
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) def. Angelique Kerber (GER) (8) 6-4 4-6 6-3
Serena Williams (USA) (1) def. Roberta Vinci (ITA) (15) 6-1 6-3
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) (6) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-3 6-3
Roger Federer (SUI) (2) def. Gilles Simon (FRA) (15) 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-2 6-3
[divider]
Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 AM
David Ferrer (ESP) (4) def. Kevin Anderson (RSA) (23) 6-3 6-1 6-1
Tommy Robredo (ESP) (32) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) (11) 6-7(5) 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
Sara Errani (ITA) (5) def. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) (20) 5-7 6-4 6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) (4) def. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (14) 6-2 6-4
[divider]
Court 1 – 11:00 AM
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) (7) / Sania Mirza (IND) (7) def. Alize Cornet (FRA) / Virginie Razzano (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) (16) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) (16) def. Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy (FRA) / Florent Serra (FRA) 6-4 6-3
Christopher Kas (GER) / Oliver Marach (AUT) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) (13) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (13) 6-4 5-7 6-1
Tomasz Bednarek (POL) / Jerzy Janowicz (POL) def. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) / Potito Starace (ITA) 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(4)
[divider]
Court 2 – 11:00 AM
Janette Husarova (SVK) / Sabine Lisicki (GER) def. Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) (15) / Darija Jurak (CRO) (15) 6-0 5-7 6-1
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (5) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) def. Shuai Zhang (CHN) / Julian Knowle (AUT) 6-3 7-5
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) / Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-2 6-7(5) 7-6(6)
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Leander Paes (IND) def. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) / Daniele Bracciali (ITA) 7-5 6-3
Cara Black (ZIM) / Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) def. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 6-4 6-0
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (2) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (2) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-2
[divider]
Court 3 – 11:00 AM
Lisa Raymond (USA) (4) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (4) def. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 6-2 4-6 [14-12]
Not Before: 1:00 PM
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (4) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) (4) def. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 7-6(3) 6-4
Nadia Petrova (RUS) (3) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (3) def. Vania King (USA) / Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6-3 6-1
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) def. Alize Lim (FRA) / Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3 7-6(5)
[divider]
Court 7 – 11:00 AM
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Frantisek Cermak (CZE) def. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) 7-6(5) 6-2
Cara Black (ZIM) / Marina Erakovic (NZL) def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) (9) / Kveta Peschke (CZE) (9) 6-3 6-4
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) / Samantha Stosur (AUS) def. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 2-6 7-5 6-2
Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Filip Polasek (SVK) def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) (6) / Horia Tecau (ROU) (6) 1-6 6-0 [10-7]
Nadia Petrova (RUS) / Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) def. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) 6-3 6-2
[divider]
Scores will be added as known.
[divider]
Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 AM
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) (3) def. Alize Cornet (FRA) (31) 4-6 6-3 6-1
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (2) def. Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-1 7-5
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (3) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) (27) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) def. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) (26) 6-2 6-2 6-3
[divider]
Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 AM
Kei Nishikori (JPN) (13) def. Benoit Paire (FRA) (24) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) def. Marion Bartoli (FRA) (13) 6-2 6-1
Richard Gasquet (FRA) (7) def. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-4 6-4 6-3
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (18) def. Samantha Stosur (AUS) (9) 3-6 6-3 6-4
[divider]
Court 1 – 11:00 AM
Sloane Stephens (USA) (17) def. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) def. Paula Ormaechea (ARG) 4-6 6-1 6-3
Tommy Haas (GER) (12) def. John Isner (USA) (19) 7-5 7-6(4) 4-6 6-7(10) 10-8
[divider]
Court 2 – 11:00 AM
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (11) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) (11) def. Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 6-2 6-4
Michael Llodra (FRA) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA) def. Max Mirnyi (BLR) (5) / Horia Tecau (ROU) (5) 4-6 7-6(3) 7-5
Not Before: 2:00 PM
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) (12) def. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 7-6(3) 7-5
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (9) def. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) (21) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3 6-3
[divider]
Court 3 – 11:00 AM
Oksana Kalashnikova (GEO) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) def. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (8) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (8) 4-6 6-0 6-4
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (2) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) (2) def. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) / Ayumi Morita (JPN) 7-5 1-6 6-0
Julien Benneteau (FRA) (13) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (13) def. Pablo Andujar (ESP) / Tommy Robredo (ESP) 4-6 6-3 6-3
Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Filip Polasek (SVK) def. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) / Colin Fleming (GBR) 6-4 7-5
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) def. Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-2 7-5
[divider]
Court 6 – 12:30 PM
Treat Huey (PHI) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) def. Mikhail Elgin (RUS) / Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-3 7-6(5)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA) def. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-2 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) / Andre Sa (BRA) def. Philipp Marx (GER) / Florin Mergea (ROU) 6-2 3-6 7-6(5)
[divider]
Court 7 – 11:00 AM
Ivan Dodig (CRO) (12) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (12) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 6-4 4-6 6-3
Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) def. Eric Butorac (USA) / Jack Sock (USA) 7-5 7-6(2)
Not Before: 2:00 PM
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) (29) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) (8) 6-4 6-4 6-3
Jamie Hampton (USA) def. Petra Kvitova (CZE) (7) 6-1 7-6(7)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (16) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-0 7-6(0) 6-1
[divider]
Court 8 – 12:30 PM
Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) def. Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) / Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-2
Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) (15) / Darija Jurak (CRO) (15) def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-1 6-3
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Saisai Zheng (CHN) def. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 3-6 7-6(9) 6-3
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) (6) / Horia Tecau (ROU) (6) def. Julie Coin (FRA) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 6-3 1-6 [10-5]
[divider]
Court 14 – 12:30 PM
David Marrero (ESP) (8) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (8) def. Frantisek Cermak (CZE) / Michal Mertinak (SVK) 7-6(5) 6-3
Cara Black (ZIM) / Marina Erakovic (NZL) def. Angelique Kerber (GER) / Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-2 6-1
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Frantisek Cermak (CZE) def. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-4 6-4
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN) def. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) / David Marrero (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-4
[divider]
Court 16 – 11:00 AM
Vania King (USA) / Monica Niculescu (ROU) def. Mona Barthel (GER) / Liga Dekmeijere (LAT) 6-0 6-4
Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) (6) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) (6) def. Aljaz Bedene (SLO) / Grega Zemlja (SLO) 7-5 6-1
[divider]
Court 17 – 11:00 AM
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (5) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) def. Abigail Spears (USA) / Scott Lipsky (USA) 6-2 6-4
Pablo Cuevas (URU) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) (9) / Leander Paes (IND) (9) 5-7 6-4 7-6(6)
Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) / Lucas Pouille (FRA) 6-2 6-0
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) def. Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (7) / Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) (7) 6-4 1-6 [11-9]
Alize Lim (FRA) / Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. Heather Watson (GBR) / Jonathan Marray (GBR) 6-4 6-7(8) [14-12]
[divider]
[divider]
Translated from: “Los obstáculos físicos, una gran pesadilla para Juan Martín Del Potro” (Canchallena.lanacion.com.ar, May 23, 2013)
Click here to discuss this and more with fellow tennis fans in our community forums.
[divider]
In keeping with a year that has had more heartache than happiness, the world #7 won’t be playing at the French Open this year; due to a viral infection, physical problems are still complicating his career.
Del Potro keeps running into problems, one after the other — inopportune, harmful. Every week since the beginning of the year, the current top Argentine player has been losing ground from where he was projected to be, which was #5 in the world, after a recharged 2012 that included an Olympic Bronze Medal. The injuries and health issues have squelched the path of JMDP in the last months of ATP action. And now, the biggest blow of the season: he won’t play at Roland Garros.
The physical issues aren’t new: they’ve plagued him since he turned pro, and when he had a real chance to realize his dream, to be #1 [after the USO in 2009,] injuries got in the way. At this point, the decision of whether or not to skip the second Grand Slam of the year, where he is defending 360 QF points, came down to him, his team, and sports cardiologist, Roberto Piedró.
In the start-up to the European clay court season, he contracted an upper-respiritory infection, and a lower digestive tract virus, which required him to stop training. A recurrence of the bronchial spasms caused the withdrawal from Oeiras (formerly Estoril, where he had won in 2011-12,) and also from Madrid, a MS1000.
It was in Rome, also a MS1000, where, lacking rhythm, he lost, not unexpectedly, and returned to [Argentina] to recover. He regained his general strength, but he wasn’t in top competitive shape, and, since he wouldn’t be going into RG at his maximum level, he and his team decided that the best course was to keep up with the rehab, and to begin looking forward to the grass swing, which, depending on how it goes, will include Queen’s (10 June), an exhibition at Boodle’s (18 June), and Wimbledon (starting 24 June).
Unlike last year, in the current calendar year del Potro has lost several matches – at least 4 – to lesser rivals, and certainly he wasn’t willing to expose himself to another fall in Paris. Up to this point in the year, the Argentine has accumulated only 1605 ranking points, whereas, up to this point last year, through RG, he had gained 2475.
“I’m sad not to participate at RG, and to have been able to play [the European clay court swing] the way I would have liked to. RG is one of the most important tournaments of the year, and I don’t like having to miss it. I’m not in the best physical shape to fight for a tournament of this level. I’m going to keep working as hard as possible, because I want, more than anyone, to come back at my best,” del Potro declared, on his Facebook page. At the same time, interviewed for The Nation, Piedró explained, “Juan Martin is better than he was a while back, but still is not 100% to compete in a tournament of best of 5 sets. He wanted to play, that was his intention, but we analyzed it all together, and the important thing was not to have a set-back.”
Piedró … was not surprised about the virus that took down del Potro. “This is the season when we see a lot of these cases, especially in the beginning of the Spring. The recovery time depends on each person, but, with Juan Martin, this one hit him particularly hard, and it created respiratory problems. I’m actually surprised by how quickly he’s gone back to training. He has to train physically and aerobically, and get back to full capacity,” says del Potro’s personal physician.
After an interesting 2012, [del Potro] looked forward to this year with dreams of success, and solid strides in the big tournaments. But, once again, as has happened so many times in his career, injuries or health issues have stalled him.