Djokovic sets up clash with Del Potro-essentiallysports.com

Published 03/13/2017, 3:49 AM EDT

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Juan Martin del Potro set up a third round clash with five-time champion Novak Djokovic. Novak, who is going thorough a rough patch, beat Kyle Edmund in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(5), in a match that lasted just under two hours.

“I think I played very well in the first set. Second set was obviously up and down,” Djokovic said. “But credit to Kyle for playing some really aggressive tennis and taking it all out. He made a lot of winners in the beginning and midway through the second.

Del Potro beat compatriot Federico Delbonis 7-6(5), 6-3 and looked agile during his win. “It has been a great year for me. Last season, I played even better than what I expected with my injuries. I’m looking forward to keep going up the rankings this year, trying to get closer to the top guys,” said del Potro. “If I stay healthy and play at the same level as last year, I think I will be close to that goal.”

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via Imago

Another third-round match up will see Alexander Zverev take on Nick Kyrgios.

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“I will be very excited, because I think we are the two young guys talked about the most, with Dominic Thiem,” Zverev said. Fresh from his win over Djokovic in Mexico, Kyrgios would look to grab another opportunity to play the world number two in the next round. Zverev would also be wishing that this time around he’s able to break free and finally send out a strong message that he is ready for the biggest of stages and to face the Big Four at Masters 1000 and majors.

“I don’t want to say I can be the champion by the end of the next week, but I feel I can play great tennis and I can beat anybody,” Zverev added. “I have the toughest quarter of the draw and I have a feeling the champion will come out of this section. The next few rounds will be very, very difficult for all us.”

FEDAL ON CARDS

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In the evening session, Roger Federer breezed past  36-year-old Stephane Robert 6-2, 6-1 in just 51 minutes.”Very happy. The knee is a thing of the past, which is great. I don’t even have to think or talk about it. So I thought the match went really well,” said Federer.

Rafa Nadal also won his match and will now face the familiar face of Fernando Verdasco for a place in the fourth round. Andy Murray has already been knocked out.

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Written by:

Sameer Bharti

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Watches tennis, cricket and football. Mostly tennis.
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