Saturday, October 12, 2013

SHANGHAI 2013: Del Potro and Djokovic Reach Final


One day after calling World #1 Rafael Nadal "unbeatable" Juan Martin del Potro did just that, beating the Spaniard 6-2 6-4 in the semifinals of the 2013 Shanhgai Masters. It was the 2009 US Open champion's first win over Nadal in four years, signaling the Argentinian's return to a form which won him a major title. Del Potro had lost the Indian Wells final earlier this year to Nadal and has now won four of their twelve meetings.

Since regaining the World #1 last week Nadal has now lost twice, something he had only done three times all year before that.

Del Potro will face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the final, after Djokovic dispatched Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 7-5. Del Potro and Djokovic played one of the best matches this year in the Wimbledon semifinals, which was won by the Serbian. Del Potro has only won 3 of the twelve times he has played Djokovic, but one of those wins was this year, in Indian Wells, snapping the World #1's 22-match winning streak.

Del Potro is clearly playing some of his best tennis right now but Djokovic knows how to play Del Potro and wants to improve his 2013 Masters series results. I'm sure the win over Nadal was huge for Del Potro and he may have a mental letdown now that he has qualified for the ATP World Tour finals in London. I'm also pretty sure he wants revenge for that major semifinal loss. It should be a great match.

MadProfessah's pick: Djokovic.

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