Del Potro Wins 40th Match Of Season

© Getty ImagesJuan Martin del Potro recorded his 40th match win of the season on Friday.

Juan Martin del Potro won his ninth straight match at the US Open on Friday when the No. 18 seed from Argentina booked his spot in the third round with a 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 victory over Diego Junqueira in two hours and 11 minutes.

The 22 year old, who is competing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since lifting the 2009 trophy (d. Federer), was in control for most of the pair's first meeting. He won the first two sets in 61 minutes, before World No. 104 Junqueira recovered from a 1-3 deficit in the 70-minute third set with two service breaks.

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"I played better than my first round," admitted del Potro. "I [had] more confidence with my forehand, especially in the beginning of the match. I need to improve, I need to be more confident with my serves and forehands."

World No. 18 del Potro, who was ranked No. 485 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings on 31 January 2011, recorded his 40th win of the season. He hit 36 winners and nine aces, winning 12 of his 16 approaches to the net.

He will next meet No. 12 seed Gilles Simon in the third round after the Frenchman defeated Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3. The 26-year-old Simon won his ninth ATP World Tour title in Hamburg (d. Almagro) in July and improved to a 35-19 match record on the season.

John Isner, the No. 28 seed, hit 20 aces and 45 winners to beat fellow American and 2005 semi-finalist Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 48 minutes. It was his 30th match win of the season. Through to the US Open third round for the third straight year, World No. 22 Isner is on a seven-match winning streak that includes lifting his third ATP World Tour title at the Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest University.

"I knew going in I'd have to serve my best because he's such a good returner," said Isner. "That's what I did. When I had my chances I capitalised, so it was a very, very good match on my part. I was very pleased with how I played. I'm just winning a lot of matches and I'm very, very confident and I feel good. I feel like I'm moving very well, especially for myself. I'm getting to balls and able to get a lot more balls back in play because I'm very comfortable out there."

France's Julien Benneteau, who finished runner-up to Isner in the Georgia final, continued his run of fine form with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Uzbekistani Denis Istomin in two hours and 16 minutes. Benneteau goes onto meet American No. 21 seed and 2003 champion Andy Roddick.  

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