Del Potro Eyes Ninth Tour-Level Title

© JLSJuan Martin del Potro has a 24-6 match record on the season.

Juan Martin del Potro is one win away from lifting his ninth tour-level title.

The rapidly improving Argentine, who was sidelined for more than eight months last year due to a right wrist injury, booked a place in the Estoril Open final on Saturday with a 6-2, 7-6(6) over Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas in one hour and 49 minutes.

Del Potro, currently No. 46 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, broke Cuevas' serve in the first game and had opened up a 4-2 lead after 27 minutes of play when a heavy rain shower suspended play at 3:37 p.m. local time.

Upon the resumption of play at 4:39 p.m., del Potro gained a second break of serve, when Cuevas hit a forehand into the net at 30/40. Del Potro coolly sealed the 36-minute first set, having dropped just six points on serve.

However, it was a different story in the second set. Cuevas grew in confidence after saving six break points in a 16-point fifth game. Cuevas recovered from 0/40, saved a further two break points and won the game for a 3-2 lead with an exquisite forehand drop shot.

Cuevas saved one break point at 3-3 and 4-4 before the tie-break. The 25 year old moved into a 4-2 lead, but del Potro won six of the next eight points for victory. Former World No. 4 del Potro is now 24-6 on the season.

In February, he won the Delray Beach title (d. Tipsarevic). He started his rankings climb from World No. 484 on 14 February after reaching the San Jose semi-finals (l. to Verdasco).

Cuevas was appearing in the sixth ATP World Tour semi-final of his career.

He was attempting to become the first Uruguayan to reach an ATP World Tour final since Marcelo Filippini captured the San Poelten title (d. Rafter) on 25 May 1997.

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