Juan Martin Del Potro is one win away from his first title in 2016, and he is also contesting his first final of the season. Standing in his way on Sunday in Stockholm is Jack Sock, who is coming off a tough three-setter against Alexander Zverev.
Juan Martin Del Potro and Jack Sock will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they battle for the If Stockholm Open title on Sunday. Their only previous encounter came earlier this season on the clay courts of Madrid, where Sock prevailed 6-4, 7-6(2).
Fast forward more than five months and Del Potro’s 2016 comeback has reached new heights. The 63rd-ranked Argentine won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics, made a quarterfinal run at the U.S. Open, and he has his country in the Davis Cup final. So far this week Del Potro has not surrendered a single set in victories over John Isner, Nicolas Almagro, Ivo Karlovic, and Grigor Dimitrov.
Sock, on the other hand, has survived a brutal road through the Stockholm draw. The sixth-seeded American outlasted Malek Jaziri 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), edged Dustin Brown 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, took care of Gastao Elias in straight sets, and then avenged a recent Beijing loss to Alexander Zverev via a 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 decision. Sock needed two hours and 48 minutes to get past Zverev on Saturday. He is a stellar 33-18 for the year and coming off a recent quarterfinal performance in Shanghai.
Things could not have shaped up any better for Del Potro, who has conserved energy by storming through everything in his Stockholm path whereas his opponent has struggled. Additionally, Sock–who is just 1-3 lifetime in ATP finals–went all the way to the Shanghai doubles title with John Isner last week. So much recent tennis will likely come back to haunt Sock against a red-hot Del Potro.
Pick: Del Potro in 2
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WWW?
HWW
Vamos Delpo in 2.
Goffin loses to Diego in 3. Oh…..
Yeah that was tough loss for Goffin barely falling at home as the top seed. Schwartzman is playing great though. I knew that match may be trickier than it seemed on paper for Goffin but I still picked him to win in two tight sets with the crowd helping him out. Diego started the tournament with that win over Mahut and just kept backing it up. I had a feeling that his match with Goffin was sort of a trap match. Still surprised Goffin didn’t run away with the third though. Kudos to Diego for hanging in there and pulling off the upset.
That was a disaster for Goffin. Inconsistent play continies to haunt Goffin.
Also my pick is del Po in two
Sock will win. Like I said ge would vs Zverev
Benny, Diego wasn’t good at all that match, Goffin just choked very badly under the pressure of winning at home.
Well Diego has beaten Mahut Fritz cuevas and Goffin. Wins over Mahut and Goffin on hard courts means he’s playing well. I didn’t see the match but it looks like he at least had a good mental effort to win 7-5 in the third. But I can see Goffin getting tight with the home crowd. I just mean Schwartzman is playing great for what you would expect from him especially on hard courts too not even clay.
It’s getting close to Davis Cup final, Argentina vs Croatia. Vamos. Argies are getting tuned up 🙂
My guess is Delpo will collect as many points as possible without wearing himself out the next couple weeks and the team will be psyched to go for it.
Cilic and Delpo in Basel draw 😀
Del Po may win Basel. Stan always sucks at that event but we’ll see.
Should be a good surface for Marin too but you never know I mean he hasn’t really done much lately. Lost to Goffin in two in Tokyo then bounced by Zverev in Shanghai.
Tokd ya Sock woukd beat A. Zverev..Now Sock beats Del Potro
Sock is underrated BIGTIME! Hes beaten Del Potro already this year, he will beat him again.
no way
Goffin loss was a surprise, for sure….and Sock will be tired, as Rick said…so JDP in straight.
Delpo on his way! Looking stronger by each game whereas is Sock looking weary as hell – his level is fading fast.
Hooray Delpo! So happy he won!
Awesome performance from Delpo. What an extraordinary example of mind over matter. Sock just unravelled in the 2nd set.
Dear Del Potro, please don’t get injured. You’re too damn good dude. #theforehandisback
Delpo wins, NID. He’s too good to be so lowly ranked. He belongs up there with the very best, best wishes to him for a great 2017 and beyond, just don’t beat our dear Rafa!
He’s on his way to a possible seeding in Melbourne. I think he’s gonna get it.
all depends on Basel, and then his draw in Paris
Yeah if he makes the final at Basel he could get the seeding and if not hopefully he could get a good draw at Paris.
So moving to watch the sheer joy on his face when he lifted his 19th trophy today after all the trials and tribulations he has endured in recent years. One can’t but help ponder what he might have achieved had he not had so many injury setbacks.
I know right it sucks but it’s great he’s back. Hope he stays here. I think he probably would’ve been one in the world if he hadn’t originally gotten injured shortly after winning US Open at just twenty years old. Still he has a great shot at reaching the top of the rankings again with Djokovic not playing so well and other top stars being injured and out of form and his great resurgent form here in Stockholm and at other tournaments this season.
Tough potential draw for Delpo in Basel. After his first round, could have to face in succession Goffin, Nishi, Dimi/Raonic and Crybaby WaaWaah (the last of which has a cupcake draw to the final).
#HomerDraw
#Delpowins 🙂 Vamos!