Tennis:Juan Martin Del Potro looked like he had never been away as he returned to the scene of his greatest triumph and dropped only five games on his way to a first-round win over Filippo Volandri at the US Open last night.
The Argentinian became the only man other than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic to win a grand slam title since Marat Safin’s Australian Open triumph in 2005 when he clinched the title at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
It looked like the start of a golden period for the big-hitting Argentinian but instead he was struck down with a wrist injury that caused him to miss most of 2010, including the defence of his US Open title.
Del Potro, seeded 18th, has been gradually working his way back up the rankings and he was very impressive in a 6-3 6-1 6-1 victory over Volandri today. He said: “I feel really glad. It was a short match but I served well. I improved my game during the match. And to be playing here after winning here, it’s special. It’s my favourite tournament so I’m really happy to take the opportunity to play here again.”
Del Potro’s section of the draw has opened up significantly following the withdrawal of sixth seed Robin Soderling, who had been due to meet Ireland’s Louk Sorensen.
The Swede’s place went to Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Da Silva, who must have felt like the luckiest of lucky losers when Sorensen also pulled out, this time with cramp when trailing 6-0 3-6 6-4 1-0.
Sorensen, who retired earlier this year but decided to give qualifying a go under his protected ranking, revealed he had not officially been told that his opponent had changed.
He said: “A guy in the locker room told me, ‘You’re not playing Soderling’. I said, ‘Yes I am’. The Brazilian guy had just told him he got in. Then I got all my stuff and walked on court.”
Andy Roddick, seeded only 21st this year, was given a scare by fellow American Michael Russell before coming through 6-2 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the night session on Arthur Ashe.
The 2003 champion had looked in cruise control until the third set, and he also had to come from a break down in the fourth as 33-year-old Russell found his range with his big forehand.
Marathon man John Isner came into the tournament on a high after winning in Winston Salem last weekend, and he survived a tricky first-round test, beating Marcos Baghdatis 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (13/11) 2-6 6-4.
Twelfth seed Gilles Simon might have expected an easier time of it against Brazil’s Ricardo Mello but instead the Frenchman was made to fight over five sets before prevailing 3-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4.
Meanwhile, Venus Williams withdrew from the last grand slam of the year, revealing she is suffering from an autoimmune disease.
The former world number one quit the tournament before her second-round match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki.
"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's US Open," she said in a statement. "I have recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain."
Sjogren's Syndrome is a chronic disease where white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands. The most common symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth but the illness can also cause dysfunction of other organs and body systems.
Nine out of 10 patients are women and most experience extreme fatigue and joint pain.