Del Potro will be the most dangerous contender outside of the top four. He started this year at No. 11, a ranking he earned over the course of a 12-month comeback after having missed most of 2010 with a wrist injury and surgery. Say what you will for the explosive game of Tomas Berdych or the power on tap in Robin Soderling’s right arm; neither of them has won a major. Delpo has—and he beat Roger Federer, who was at his zenith in that one (U.S.Open 2009). The hard courts in Melbourne are ideal for del Potro against all but the most radical topspinners, because they usually produce a high bounce that puts the ball up into the 6-foot-6 Argentine's strike zone. Del Potro was a 20-year old quarterfinalist in just his third Australian Open, and unlike some other big men, he handles the challenge of playing in the heat very well.
Why He’ll Win: The testing and probing are over; del Potro is back from that terrible wrist injury and he’s ready to take it up a notch and get back on track as a last-weekend player.
Why He Won’t: Del Potro must be chomping at the bit, but he’s the cautious sort. He wants to do well but knows better than to expect too much of himself so early in the year. This may turn out to be more of a tune-up for him.
Bottom Line: Del Potro hasn’t suffered any eye-opening upsets in Melbourne, but he has failed to close the deal against guys he ought to beat at majors (including Marin Cilic and Marcos Baghdatis). He gets tougher this year, but falters in the quarters.
More Previews:
- Kim Clijsters
- Juan Martin del Potro
- Petra Kvitova
- Novak Djokovic
- Maria Sharapova
- Roger Federer
- Samantha Stosur
- Andy Murray
- Serena Williams
- Rafael Nadal
- Caroline Wozniacki