US Open 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro fought back from a break down in the third set to defeat Swedish player Robin Soderling 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(3) and reach the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals championship round for the first time.
The 21-year old Argentine had a dismal performance during his debut in the competition last year in Shanghai but this time he’s set to become the second player from his nation to win this year-end ATP tournament. The first Argentine player to lift the trophy was David Nalbandian in 2005.
“It was a very, very tough match. It was so close. We played unbelievable points. We served well. The difference was just a couple of points in the tie-break in the third set,” del Potro said after the match.
Soderling has nothing to be sad about despite the defeat. The Swedish player has enjoyed an impressive season, reaching his first career Grand Slam final in Paris, where he lost the title bout against Roger Federer. Despite the loss, Soderling made headlines in the tournament because he was the one who defeated four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.
Up next for del Potro is Russian world number seven Nikolay Davydenko, who reached the final for the second straight year after beating world number one Roger Federer in the semifinals.
Watch the highly anticipated Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2009 championship match live on Sunday, November 29 HERE.
