Juan Martín Del Potro looked somwhere close to his very best in ousting Steve Johnson
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Updated 02/09/2016 at 08:00 GMT
Former US Open champion Juan Martín Del Potro looked somwhere close to his very best as he ousted home hope Steve Johnson 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-2.
Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina after beating Steve Johnson of the USA on day four of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Reuters
The giant Argentine followed up his brilliant display at the Rio Olympics, where he lost out to Britain's Andy Murray in the final, to continue his US Open march in the night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Del Potro, the 19th seed, is going from strength to strength following time out through injury and showed his power on the main court, where he was playing for the first time since 2013, with some trademark crushing forehands from the baseline.
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Highlights: Del Potro marches on with Johnson demolition
After a close first set, the man nicknamed 'Tower of Tandil' found himself a break down in the next, but managed to fight his way back to take it before cruising away with the contest in the third set.
"It's amazing, the stadium. It's amazing the atmosphere out there," del Potro said on court after his emphatic victory.
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Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina hits to Steve Johnson of the USA (not pictured) on day four of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Reuters
"I'm so happy to be playing tennis again after my third surgery on the wrist and I think I did a really good job to come back at tennis."
The big Argentine belted 15 aces past 19th seed Johnson and yielded only one break of serve in the two hour, nine-minute match. "I'm trying to play as I did in 2009 but it's not easy, I'm getting older," said the 27-year-old.
This was the first-ever night win at Flushing Meadows for del Potro, but his 0-3 came at the hands of Novak Djokovic (twice) and Lleyton Hewitt.
"I lost the three night matches, but I won the most important one, against Roger in the 2009 final," del Potro said. "That will be in my heart for the rest of my life."
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