Juan Martin del Potro grinds down Milos Raonic for 15th straight win
It was not easy, but Juan Martin del Potro made it 15 wins in a row as he outlasted Milos Raonic in the Miami Open quarter-finals.
Having recently won the Indian Wells Masters, Del Potro remains on course to complete the Sunshine Double after coming from behind to beat the Canadian 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3) in two hours and 52 minutes.
The Tower of Tandil is shaken, but still standing!@delpotrojuan fights past Raonic 5-7 7-6(1) 7-6(3) to reach #MiamiOpen semi-finals. pic.twitter.com/n1xJ0s5Xvg
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 29, 2018
It was a close-fought opening set with only one break point on offer, but Raonic made the most of it as he took the opportunity in game 12 to go 1-0 up.
It was a similar story in the second set and Raonic again manufactured the only break point in the sixth game, but this time Del Potro held firm and made it one set each by claiming the tie-breaker.
The decider was a different cattle of fish with four consecutive breaks of serve at the start before Del Potro eventually won the tie-breaker again.
“I love to play in matches like this,” the former US Open winner said. “We both played well, the difference was perhaps that I just played better in the tie-breaks.
“I am tired now, but at least I have a day off to prepare for Friday. It’s going to be important that I recover physically and mentally because that was a real battle.”
He will face John Isner for a place in the final after the American proved too good for Hyeon Chung as he claimed a 6-1, 6-4 win over the South Korean.
The 32-year-old broke in the fourth game and won the opening set in 25 minutes and then claimed the decisive break in game five of the second set.
.@johnisner continues his best tournament of the season!
Eases past Chung 6-1 6-4 to reach #MiamiOpen semifinals pic.twitter.com/HsQEa2hjm9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 28, 2018
“I played extremely well. Every match I’ve played in this tournament I’ve gotten better,” the big-serving Isner said after the match.
“I keep getting stronger and that’s a very, very good sign going forward. I know I’m in the semi-finals and I can’t wait to get back on this court.”
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