Juan Martin del Potro, newly restored to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings, made a welcome return to the Australian Open for the first time since 2014 on Tuesday night.
The Argentine star, seeded 12th, won the last match of day two at Melbourne Park 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 over #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe in two hours and 14 minutes.
Del Potro rose two spots to No. 10 in the ATP Rankings on Monday, marking the first time he has been among the ATP World Tour elite since 4 August 2014 (No. 10). He finished as runner-up at the ASB Classic in Auckland (l. to Bautista Agut) last week.
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The 29-year-old Del Potro, the 2009 and 2012 quarter-finalist, will now challenge Russian Karen Khachanov, who struck 21 aces among 48 winners in a 7-6(3), 7-6(2), 6-4 first-round victory over Peter Polansky of Canada in just under two-and-a-half hours.
Del Potro, who missed the past two Australian Opens due to wrist injuries, lost just 10 of his first-service points against Tiafoe, striking 14 aces. Tiafoe failed to convert any of his four break point opportunities.
Del Potro broke Tiafoe in the sixth game of the 37-minute first set, prior to taking a 2-0 lead in the second set. He then failed to convert one set point chance at 5-4, with Tiafoe serving at Ad-out, but later used his big-match experience to clinch the set and maintained his momentum in a one-sided third set.
Last year at the Australian Open, Tiafoe, who is coached by former pro Robby Ginepri, recorded his first match win at a Grand Slam championship over Mikhail Kukushkinreadfullarticle
