US Open 2016: Wawrinka ends Del Potro’s fairytale; Nishikori stuns Murray in quaters
Emotions got the better of former US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro in his quaterfinal defeat against third seed Stan Wawrinka. Del Potro who had been sidelined from competitive tennis for two years due to multiple injuries had all but given up hope of returning to the game that he loved the most. The former world number 4 re-emerged on the tour when the grass season got underway. The real breakthrough however came last month as he quashed world number 1 Novak Djokovic’s bid to win the elusive Gold medal in the very first round of the Olympics. Del Potro went on to clinch the silver in Rio.
The injuries had an impact on the Argentine’s ranking and he way out of the top 100 and had it not been for a wildcard, the Tandil native wouldn’t be competing at this year’s US Open. Del Potro who had against all odds defeated 5 time champion Roger Federer in 2009 was once again being looked at as a contender after reaching the quater finals. World number 3 Stan Wawrinka who has quietly flown under the radar while all the hype has been around Djokovic and Murray held his composure even after going 1-4 down at one point in the opening set winning the match eventually in 4 sets.
As del Potro went out for the last game, the fans that had remained as the clock moved past 1:00am serenaded him and the big Argentine wiped away tears as “Ole, ole, ole, ole, Delpo, Delpo,” rained down from the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands.
“Something difficult to describe with words,” del Potro, who is ranked 142 and given a wild card into the event, told reporters about the salute.
“I can lose the match, but I will never forget this. It’s bigger than a win in any match.”
Super K Knocks Out Andy Murray
Andy Murray who had had a dream run since winning the Wimbledon this year was looking all set to add another Grand Slam in his cabinet, but Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori had other plans. Seeded number 5 Kei Nishikori was no stranger to upsets having caused another one two years back knocking off World Number 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the semi finals once again showed his skills overcoming Murray in 5 sets.
