Fifth-Seeded Del Potro Ousted by Bautista Agut at Aussie Open
January 16, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro is out of the 2014 Australian Open, losing 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in nearly four hours after numerous weather-related delays. The loss marked del Potro's fourth second-round exit in eight years in Melbourne. Bautista Agut is ranked 62nd in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings and turned pro in 2006. He reached the final of the Aircel Chennai Open at the start of last season and reached the semifinals of the 2014 Heineken Open in Auckland, falling to eventual champion John Isner.
"I feel comfortable on these courts. These courts are good for my game," said Bautista Agut. "I'm serving and returning very well. That helps me a lot. Today, I could return a lot of serves from del Potro. This was the key to win the fourth and fifth sets."
Bautista Agut will next face the 27th-seeded Benoit Paire in the third round. Paire came from two sets down to defeat Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios on Thursday in a match that lasted three hours and 20 minutes, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
“He played unbelievable shots,” said del Potro of Bautista Agut. “During break point down, he served well. He made winners with forehands and backhands, and he played close to the lines very often during the match."
