Del Potro and Nadal march into US Open quarters
Juan Martin Del Potro: an efficient display
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By James Christie
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Tuesday, 08, Sep 2009 11:04
By James Christie.
Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro powered down 22 aces as he defeated number 24 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets to reach the quarter finals of the US Open.
And he will be joined in the last-eight by world number three Rafael Nadal, who recovered from the loss of the first set on a tiebreak to beat Gael Monfils 6-7 6-3 6-1 6-3.
Del Potro's reward for his 6-3 6-3 6-3 will be a match with Andy Murray's Croatian conqueror Marin Cilic, a repeat of the last 16 match-up in this year's Australian Open which saw the South American emerge victorious.
Del Potro has increased his ace count in each match he has played in this year's US Open - no mean feat as the opposition becomes tougher in each match.
He is widely regarded as the most improved player on the tour this year and it is worrying for Murray that younger players such as 20-year-old Del Potro and Cilic have stolen his thunder at this year's event.
Still wearing his black sleeveless tennis shirt and gold bandana at the post-match conference, Del Potro revealed he has been relaxing in between matches by watching football games from the South American World Cup qualifying group.
Seeing his beloved Argentina lose to Brazil earlier this week doesn't seem to have distracted the number five seed, though, as he has looked in fine form throughout the tournament.