DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Juan Martin del Potro was tired, sore and still nervous about being back in competition.
The 27-year-old Argentine had reason to celebrate, too, after beating Australian qualifier John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday night to advance to the Delray Beach Open quarterfinals.
Out for 11 months because of a left wrist injury that took two surgeries to repair, Del Potro won consecutive matches for the first time since he reached the quarterfinals in Sydney in January 2015.
Smith attempted to exploit del Potro's backhand, a shot that the Argentine has had to alter from his customary two-hander to a one-handed slice due to the injury.