Juan Martin del Potro produced 41 winners in a stunning display to upset top seed Novak Djokovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) and defeat the Serb for a second straight Olympics. The Argentine scored his biggest win in his latest comeback on his sport's biggest stage as he advanced to the second round.
Del Potro wins 73-minute first set in a tiebreaker to take the lead
In what was the marquee match of the Olympics so far, del Potro had three break chances to take an immediately lead, saved well by Djokovic. Both players are excellent returners, but neither man could muster anything on their opponent's serve through the next seven games, not so much as a deuce point being played. The opening game of the match was 14 points long and the ninth game was 10, both on Djokovic's serve and the Argentine had a set point ahead 5-4, but Djokovic swatted it away. After holds were exchanged, a tiebreak was to be played and again minibreaks were exchanged.
Del Potro took the lead for good, Djokovic missing a backhand and now del Potro led 3-2. He would stretch it to 6-3 and after wasting his first set point chance, a blistering forehand down the line gave him the opening set 7-6 (4) in an hour and 13 minutes.
Del Potro breaks open second set tiebreaker with brilliant forehand to seal famous victory
Del Potro is no stranger to winning against Djokovic in the Olympics, having won the bronze at the Serb's expense with a 7-5, 6-4 win in London four years ago. He was on the attack again early in the second set, two break point chances in the second game, two break points by the board. He had another chance in the sixth game, but Djokovic again denied the Argentine.
The Serb is unarguably the world's best returner, but he never came close to having a break point. Inevitably, the set was headed to a tiebreak and once there, del Potro was dominant, coasting to a 5-0 lead on the strength of his massive forehand. Djokovic was powerless to stop the avalanche of winners coming his way and he was just about out of the event at 6-1 down. He saved that first match point, but not the second, fittingly a forehand on match point-clinching the memorable win for del Potro, the two men sharing an emotional hug at the end. Del Potro's second round opponent will be Joao Sousa of Portugal.
