Del Potro forced to withdraw

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:05

The third-seeded Argentine opened the hardcourt event on Wednesday with a victory over Austrian wild card Martin Fischer, a win that guaranteed him the number eight ranking when the updated standings are released on Monday.

The 20-year-old was ranked as low as 81 earlier this season, but he has been climbing steadily since claiming the first four titles of his career this summer.

Del Potro, who has won 30 games and lost just two since the start of July, also reached the US Open quarter-finals and came into this event fresh off an appearance in the Tokyo championship last weekend.

The beneficiary of Del Potro’s setback was unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who moved into the quarter-finals with the walkover victory.

Eighth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils also is through to the quarters after posting a 6-4 6-3 win over Czech Radek Stepanek.

The 22-year-old has reached three semi-finals this year, including his impressive run at the French Open, but has yet to reach a final in 2008.

The top of the draw has been decimated by upsets, leaving a quartet of unseeded players to battle it out.

Austria’s Jurgen Melzer topped former number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 on Thursday to set up a quarter-final match with Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 winner over lucky loser Santiago Giraldo.

The other quarter-final in the top half will pit German qualifier Philipp Petzschner, who ousted top seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening round, against Spain’s Carlos Moya.

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