• Sydney International

Del Potro to face Tomic in final

ESPN staff
January 10, 2014
Tomic to face Del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro will take on reigning champion Bernard Tomic in the final of the Sydney International.

Del Potro defeated Dmitry Tursunov 6-4 6-2, while Australian Tomic came from a set behind to get the better of Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7(4) 7-5 6-3.

Wilko: Murray's right - he won't win

Murray has played just four competitive matches since his surgery © Getty Images
  • Andy Murray is recovering from back surgery and if he is to win the Australian Open he will likely need to get past Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic following an unfavourable draw for the Scot.
  • The man himself says he probably won't win in Melbourne - and ESPN's resident tennis expert and former British No. 1 Chris Wilkinson agrees.
  • Click here to read the full article

Following a slow start to the tournament, Del Potro has grown in confidence, and will be eyeing his 18th career title win.

"I think I played my best match of the week," he said. "I played great with my forehands and serves. I didn't make easy errors and I played solid on the baseline. I think I did everything okay, and I'm glad with my level of today. I'm looking forward for the final of tomorrow."

Tomic meanwhile lost the opening set in his semi-final clash against Stakhovsky in a tiebreak, and managed to fend off a total of seven of the eight break points he faced to reach the final.

"Tomorrow is going to be a difficult match. I've got to prepare as best as I can," Tomic said.

At the Heineken Open, four-time champion and top seed David Ferrer was stunned by Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4 7-6(4), and will take on third seed John Isner in the final after the big American saw off Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4.

On the WTA tour, Tsvetana Pironkova beat Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4 in the final of the Sydney International to win her maiden title, and at the Hobart International, top seed Sam Stosur was knocked out in the semi-finals by Klara Zakopalova, losing 6-3 6-2.

Tsvetana Pironkova lifted her maiden trophy © Getty Images
Enlarge
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close