Juan Martin Del Potro claimed two ATP indoor titles at the close of 2012. The Argentine conquered Vienna and Basel and qualified for the ATP Finals, his first season-ending event in three years. Juan Martin outclassed Janko Tipsarevic and Roger Federer to advance to the semi-final and set the clash against world No.
1 Novak Djokovic. 1 in the world, Novak Djokovic. Del Potro got off to a great start against Djokovic and opened up a 6-4 2-1 lead, controlling the pace and looking good to advance to the title clash. However, the Serbian raised his level and won the rest of the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 12 minutes.
Novak outclassed Juan Martin for the seventh time in nine matches, winning a further 14 points and making the difference with the first serve. Djokovic kept his cool as he trailed down a set and a break, targeting more of his opponent’s backhand and delivering four return games that carried him home.
The Serb defended five of seven break points and took the reins from the middle of the second to race to the top and put Roger Federer in check. There was nothing to separate them in the lengthy exchanges, and Djokovic forged victory in the shorter and middle rallies after hitting more winners than unforced errors.
Del Potro broke at 15 in the ninth game of the first set and fired three winners in the next for 6-4 in 47 minutes. The Argentine opened up a 2-1 lead in the second set before the Serb came back from the break in the fourth to end his downfall.
Novak capitalized on the second break chance in game eight to open a 5-3 gap and held at 30 in the next to enter a decider.
Djokovic won Wimbledon for the seventh time
Leif Shiras, in a recent interview with Kamau Murray, spoke about the Serb’s chances of winning more Grand Slam titles.
He also emphasized Novak Djokovic’s outstanding physical fitness at the age of 35. “I think Novak Djokovic in his current form, his physical health, he has got you know four or five more Majors in him where he could get to 26 or 27,” Shiras said.
“He is 35 years old and he continues to set this amazing standard of physicality. And you know he goes down a set to these young challengers two sets, in fact to sinner and you feel like it just doesn’t bother him. He just finds another gear in his head in his legs and in his heart,” he added.
