Upstart Chardy Defeats Murray But Falls to del Potro in Cincy
August 17, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Former U.S. Open champion and 2012 Olympic Bronze Medal winner Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 Western & Southern Open on Friday in Cincinnati with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over France’s Jeremy Chardy. Just one short day ago, it was Chardy who ousted American Andy Roddick and defending champion and Olympic Gold Medal winner Andy Murray of Great Britain to reach his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarterfinals.
Number nine-ranked del Potro, who rose as high as fourth in the world after winning the 2009 U.S. Open, needed just 76 minutes to end Chardy’s run in Cincinnati. The Argentine surrendered only 12 points on serve and broke Chardy four times from 17 opportunities.
The 38th-ranked Chardy was granted a place in the main draw following John Isner’s withdrawal from the Western & Southern Open.
The 23-year-old del Potro improved to a 48-12 match record on the season, and will face either world number two Serbian Novak Djokovic or Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the next round.
