Juan Martin Del Potro will try to continue his run through the Sydney draw when he goes up against Mikhail Kukushkin during quarterfinal action on Thursday. In Auckland, meanwhile, Kevin Anderson and Steve Johnson are gunning for a semifinal spot.
Apia International: (WC) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. (Q) Mikhail Kukushkin
Can anyone stop Del Potro in Sydney? The Argentine’s comeback has already included an ouster of No. 1 seed Fabio Fognini, who was dismissed 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. Second-seeded David Goffin and No. 3 Philipp Kohlschreiber are also gone. Only two seeds remain: No. 4 Julien Benneteau and No. 5 Leonardo Mayer. For whatever it is worth, you can also count Sergiy Stakhovsky among the departed. He went down to Del Potro 6-3, 7-6(4) in round one.
Next in line in a effort to take down the former world No. 4 is Kukushkin, who has reached Thursday’s quarterfinals as a qualifier. The 66th-ranked Kazakh has faced Del Potro once before and it did not go well for the underdog, who was trounced 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in a 2011 Davis Cup meeting on the clay courts of Argentina. So far this week Kukushkin has defeated Denis Istomin and Pablo Cuevas in main-draw action. This proposition, of course, is a steep step up in competition.
Pick: Del Potro in 2
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Heineken Open: (8) Steve Johnson vs. (4) Kevin Anderson
Anderson and Johnson will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the second straight year in Auckland when the former college stars meet again on Thursday. They split a pair of encounters early in 2014. Johnson cruised 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of this same event before Anderson rolled 6-2, 6-4 a few weeks later in the Delray Beach semifinals.
It has already been a stellar week for Johnson, who battled past two baseline grinders to get into the last eight. The 39th-ranked American downed Joao Sousa 7-5, 6-4 before beating Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1. Anderson, who lost his Brisbane opener, picked up his first win of the season on Wednesday by defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(6), 6-1. Johnson, who obviously feels quite comfortable in Auckland, fired 15 aces while double-faulting only once against Carreno Busta. Similar serving would likely see him past Anderson.
Pick: Johnson in 3
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I really think Kukushin will win this. A shocking Stakhovsky and a super-slumping Fognini are hardly the hardest obstacles to overcome. Not taking anything away from Delpo, he has done incredibly well to notch consecutive wins in his first two matches back. And his serve and forehand seem to be working for him. However, Kukushin is a very capable player, in good form, and is bound to be sharper than Delpo. Physically and mentally,is there any guarantee Delpo will be up to this challenge, which really should be a step up in intensity and difficulty? I certainly don’t think he will win 2-0, but I am willing and ready to eat humble pie tomorrow if I am wrong. Kukushin to win 7-5, 6-7 6-1
6-0, 6-0 to Del Potro would be my preferred result!
very possible
While maybe in better form, Kuku is not as talented.
I think Delpo in three. Kuku is no pushover recently.
Well obviously Mr career high 48 in the world is not as talented as grand slam champion and former world number 4 Juan Martin Del Potro! He’s not as talented as Fognini either, but that’s not really the point! He is much more match fit. And talented enough to have an edge over a man who’s played 2 matches in 10 months. If they’re both in the same place physically and mentally then Del Boy wins 9 times out of 10. But I think this is 50/50 at best for the giant Argentine in his current condition.
It’s great to see Delpo back in action again. I think he will get the win over Kuku, although I don’t think it will an easy one.
I’ll be here all week folks! At least a tough, hard fought defeat should be good for Delpo going into Melbourne. Dream draw please
he hit no two-handed backhands in first two games so was worrying, but then hit many (not very good but so what???) as match went on. It looks like he is OK and will keep getting better. Losing was because Kukushkin was good, not Juan bad. Overall good first tournament!