Argentine tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro on Tuesday got a victorious encounter on the clay field of the Madrid Open by defeating Austrian Dominic Thiem in his first game here since 2012.
Del Potro beat Thiem, a finalist two days ago in Munich and champion this season in Buenos Aires and Acapulco, by 7 -6 (5), 6-3 in one hour and 44 minutes, reports Efe.
After reaching the quarter-finals in Munich in his first tournament on clay since 2013 when physical problems stalled his career, Del Potro, no. 274 in the ATP rankings, made a promising debut in Madrid.
Del Potro had lost to Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals of 2012 Madrid Open.
His next round game will be against American Jack Sock, who defeated French Benoit Pair.
--IANS
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