Marseille win is milestone in Del Potro’s comeback

ARGENTINE Juan Martin Del Potro claimed his tenth career ATP title by beating local favourite Michael Llodra 6-4 6-4 in the Marseille Open final yesterday.

The fourth-seeded Del Potro conceded only 13 points on serve as he easily coped with the unseeded Llodra.

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion whose career has been hampered by injuries, broke once in each set and never faced a break point to seal victory in 82 minutes.

“Michael is one of the worst opponents to face indoors because he serves very well,” said Del Potro, the world number ten. “I talked about this with my coach. It may be my most important victory since I came back from injury given the opposition I faced here,” he added, referring to a wrist injury that kept him out of action for almost a year between 2010-11.

“Beating Davydenko, Gasquet and Llodra is a great performance.”

It was Del Potro’s first indoor title in his fourth final attempt.

Del Potro and Llodra will both play in Dubai this week, with an exhausted Llodra quite realistic about his chances in his first match scheduled against former world number one Roger Federer.

“Roger has been there for a while. He must be by the pool waiting for me with a good ice-cream,” the Frenchman said.