Surprise in Miami

Surprise in Miami: Zeballos entered by Federer and Del Potro eliminated

He won in straight sets in one hour and 21 minutes. Mar del Plata, who entered as a lucky loser, is in the third round of the Masters 1000.

The first round had passed and no one had called. Horacio Zeballos prepared to leave Miami when the phone rang: Roger Federer dropped his debut in the second round against Juan Martin Del Potro and that place now was his. So with little more than an hour of preparation, Mar del Plata entered the main court of the 1000 Miami Masters as a lucky loser and gave the surprise by eliminating compatriot in straight sets. Previously, Juan Monaco lost to Gilles Simon.

There was no shock dreamed for tennis fans in the second round. Roger Federer, who would reappear after minor knee surgery, got off the tournament with a stomach virus and thus his duel with Del Potro was canceled , which Zeballos had to face.

After noon, the version that Federer would not stand was heard strongly in Miami. First, it was thought by pain in the knee, the same player had revealed. However, the reason was a stomach virus, which was confirmed an hour before the start of the match on the center court .

“I have not felt well for a few days and unfortunately has worsened in the past 24 hours. I’m not able to play. I tried to warm up this morning but it was clear he could not compete , ” Federer said.

The court then went Zeballos, first main draw of a Masters 1000 Miami since 2014. Despite that, the Mar del Plata passages showed good game and handed Delp a difficult and even match. With some pain in his right knee -in which sported a kinesiológicas tapes her wrist negras- and operated, the tandilense suffered aggressiveness 112th in the world, who were encouraged and took his first set point unforced error of the tower of Tandil to win 6-4 in 37 minutes.

Before heading out to play the second set, Del Potro was dressed by the doctor, who gave him massages on his left wrist. Aching, Del Potro ran a towel over his face, he again placed his headband and left again on track to keep the fight. His serve was his most ally: it had two in his first service game and reached six.

Standing, holding on to his serve and trying to avoid anyway setback that pointed Zeballos, Delp said points from the service. But the high level of compatriot prevented the comeback. And in one hour and 21 minutes, after another 6-4 Mar del Plata remained with the party and pass to the next round, where he will meet with Spanish Fernando Verdasco (65th), who defeated 6-4 and 6 Frenchman Jeremy Chardy -4 (31st).

Monaco (108th), meanwhile, lost to the French Simon in straight sets and could not advance in a tournament that had debuted with victory over Croatian Ivan Dodig (75 °) 3-6 6-3 5 -0 and neglect.