Defending champion beats Del Potro in straight sets
Defending champion Fernando Verdasco reached the final of the San Jose Open with a 6-4 6-4 victory against Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.
Del Potro, US Open champion in 2009, was contesting only his 10th match since returning from a long spell on the sidelines having undergone wrist surgery last year.
While he showed flashes of grand-slam winning form, the Argentine's groundstrokes often lacked depth and he was unable to do much damage when returning serve.
For his part, top seed Verdasco dominated much of the action with his huge forehand, excellent court coverage and solid service returns.
"Everything worked," the left-handed Spaniard said later. "I served well, moved well, and my forehand worked well in the moments that I needed it. I don't make many winners with my backhand, but it was solid.
"I needed to play well because I watched Juan Martin beat (Lleyton) Hewitt yesterday and he was playing so good. That woke me in the sense that I needed to go out and play my best."
Verdasco broke his opponent in the opening game and never looked back, winning the set with a hooking serve and crosscourt forehand winner.
Difficult
Del Potro improved in the second set, breaking the world number nine to move 3-1 ahead by ripping a crosscourt forehand winner.
However, Verdasco broke back in the next game with a big return at Del Potro's feet, and then broke him again to jump ahead 5-4 with a forehand winner down the line.
Verdasco, who has only been broken twice in four matches, then served out the match to love, winning it with an ace measured at 107mph.
"He played better, served well and took his opportunities," Del Potro admitted. "When you play a little under your level, your opponent takes the game and difficult to come back."
Verdasco will play promising Canadian Milos Raonic in the final. The 20-year-old advanced after his semi-final opponent, second seed Gael Monfils, withdrew with a wrist injury.
"I practiced with him twice before the Australian Open and I knew he was going to do well," Verdasco said of Raonic, who reached the fourth round in Melbourne.
"He has the game to do it, one of the biggest serves and he's aggressive from the baseline and he just doesn't care who he's playing. For sure he's going to be a top player very soon."
Del Potro, US Open champion in 2009, was contesting only his 10th match since returning from a long spell on the sidelines having undergone wrist surgery last year.
While he showed flashes of grand-slam winning form, the Argentine's groundstrokes often lacked depth and he was unable to do much damage when returning serve.
For his part, top seed Verdasco dominated much of the action with his huge forehand, excellent court coverage and solid service returns.
"Everything worked," the left-handed Spaniard said later. "I served well, moved well, and my forehand worked well in the moments that I needed it. I don't make many winners with my backhand, but it was solid.
"I needed to play well because I watched Juan Martin beat (Lleyton) Hewitt yesterday and he was playing so good. That woke me in the sense that I needed to go out and play my best."
Verdasco broke his opponent in the opening game and never looked back, winning the set with a hooking serve and crosscourt forehand winner.
Difficult
Del Potro improved in the second set, breaking the world number nine to move 3-1 ahead by ripping a crosscourt forehand winner.
However, Verdasco broke back in the next game with a big return at Del Potro's feet, and then broke him again to jump ahead 5-4 with a forehand winner down the line.
Verdasco, who has only been broken twice in four matches, then served out the match to love, winning it with an ace measured at 107mph.
"He played better, served well and took his opportunities," Del Potro admitted. "When you play a little under your level, your opponent takes the game and difficult to come back."
Verdasco will play promising Canadian Milos Raonic in the final. The 20-year-old advanced after his semi-final opponent, second seed Gael Monfils, withdrew with a wrist injury.
"I practiced with him twice before the Australian Open and I knew he was going to do well," Verdasco said of Raonic, who reached the fourth round in Melbourne.
"He has the game to do it, one of the biggest serves and he's aggressive from the baseline and he just doesn't care who he's playing. For sure he's going to be a top player very soon."
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