Seven years of the last title of Juan Martín del Potro are completed

He Indian Wells Masters 1000 He always presented himself as an almost unattainable gem for South American tennis players. Since its creation in 1974, the tournament was won only by the Chilean Marcelo Ríos in 1998. After that deed, Kuerten and the foal own made enders as representatives of South America in 2003 and 2013, respectively.

However, there was always a factor that explained the little competitiveness that the players of these parts had in the first 1000 masters of the season: the surface. The cement was never the favorite for South American tennis players, except for some exceptions. And one of them was Juan Martín del Potro.

The Tandilense began his adventure in the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells 2018 with victory against a young Alex de Miñaur, who entered with Wild Card. After a lazy triumph 6-2 and 6-1, he fell consecutively by David Ferrer, Leonardo Mayer, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Milos Raonic. Installed in the final, an old acquaintance was expected: Roger Federer.

Until that March 18, 2018, Del Potro and Federer had faced 24 timeswith a wide advantage of the Swiss with eighteen victories against only six of the Argentine. In spite of this, the most important definition between the two had remained in the hands of the Tandilense: the US Open 2009. In this way, this Indian Wells final was presented as the second most important game between the two after the deed in New York. To highlight this rivalry, we must also mention that they faced several finals, with a favorable history of the Argentine: 3-2 until then.

That meeting that brings us together today in this event began favorable for Juan Martín, who took the first set 6-4. In the next sleeve, which reached the tie-breakerit was for his majesty. This moment of the game was, along with the end, the one with the greatest tension. The reason is that, at first, Federer took off on the scoreboard reaching a reassuring 6-3. However, Del Potro matched him 6-6 and subsequently put 8-7, staying with Match Point in favor.

However, the pressure situation was overcome by former world No. 1 and stayed with the Trebreak 10-8. Everything was defined in the third set. And how could it be otherwise, with uncertainty and nervousness of both sides by the parity of the game they had been showing. The cúlmine moment of this climate was given during the tenth Game of the last manga. Federer, emboldened with his service (of the best in the world while he was active) became 40-15 up with double Match Point. But on the other side was the defense of the “Tower of Tandil”.

First it was a right after moving to the Swiss from here to there. Then it was a drop that was short on the network. From 40-15 to 40-40. And to dream again. After a couple of deduceFederer had a new Match Point that wasted and that ended up giving free rein to the illusion of the Tandilense, which supported by its very powerful setback and in its supersonic right, broke to stretch the definition.

The final tiebreak was very different from that of the second set. Del Potro’s comeback led him to take an important advantage and keep the definition of Indian Wells 7-2, overwhelming one of the best players in history. In this way, Argentina had a 1000 Masters champion again after 11 years, since the last one had been David Nalbandian in Paris-Bercy 2007.

After consecrating in California, Del Potro played finals again: Los Cabos (2018), Us Open (2018) and Beijing (2018). But he couldn’t shout champion again. Despite that, the memory of his latest trophy exalts everything achieved by the form and the rival. Juan Martín won a 1000 Masters that will never be forgotten.