Juan Martin del Potro defeated Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 on Wednesday, to advance to the third round of the US Open.

Del Potro, the #3 seed and 2009 US Open champion, dispatched the twenty-six-year-old American Kudla, without facing a break point. Their only previous meeting – won by del Potro in straights - was two years ago on an outdoor hardcourt at the Delray Open. Although he lost, once again in straights, Kudla acquitted himself well, holding serve throughout the third set to force a tie-breaker.

In the new Louis Armstrong stadium, the American served first on another brutally hot day in NYC. Known for his powerful serve and penetrating groundstrokes, Kudla immediately came under pressure after throwing in a double fault and on the next point, missing wide with the backhand.

Kudla regrouped nicely with a fantastic backhand volley and overhead smash to level at deuce. The following point was one for the newsreel as it easily exceeded thirty strokes both striking the ball from the baseline with variety and authority.

Kudla faced a second break point when he shanked a forehand. Del Potro created a third break point opportunity following an incredible running cross-court forehand winner. The American was finally broken when another backhand went wide.

The Argentine’s first service game was nothing like Kudla’s. Despite throwing in a double fault, he served two aces and struck a lethal backhand down the line to hold to 15. Kudla continued to serve big and it paid off as del Potro’s returns sailed long. The American was eager to move forward when the opportunity presented itself and executed a sweet backhand drop shot to go up 40-15. He held for 1-2 when the Argentine miss-hit a forehand.

Del Potro was unloading on first and second serves and with another ace, held to love to take a 3-1 lead. Kudla once again faced double break point as his slice backhand found the net. He saved one with an amazing backhand volley winner and on the next point, a well-struck backhand out of del Potro’s reach caused him to slip and lose the point. With an unforced error from del Potro and an ace, Kudla managed to hold for 2-3.

The Argentine’s serve and formidable groundstrokes continued to pay dividends as he held to 15. Although he threw in another double fault, Kudla held as del Potro’s returns sailed long.

Serving at 4-3 with new balls, the Argentine stuck another ace and held for 5-3. Kudla served to stay in the set and following a netted forehand volley, faced break and set point. Del Potro broke and took the first set 6-3 when Kudla’s forehand found the net.  

Del Potro opened the second set and held to love following four consecutive huge serves, three of them aces! Kudla immediately felt pressure as he tried to go toe-to-toe with Delpo from the baseline. He faced double break point after the Argentine hit an exquisite stab drop volley. A poor attempt at a lob cost him the game and parity.

Delpo held for 3-0 and would break Kudla to take a commanding 4-0 lead as the unforced errors continued to mount. The Argentine continued to vary the placement of his serve going out wide, in the body or up the tee. Incredulously, for the second time in the match, he held to love following three aces and a netted return.

Kudla began to play more aggressively and finally held as he struck two aces in addition to a cross-court forehand and volley winner on consecutive points. Del Potro secured the set 6-1 as he continued to unload on the serve and forehand.

Kudla served first in the third and held following two forehand cross-court volley winners on consecutive points.

The first sign of trouble for the Argentine appeared in his opening service game as the American struck a jaw-dropping backhand down the line winner to go up 0-15. Delpo went down 0-30 when his forehand went wide. He steadied the ship and hit three huge serves and a spectacular lob to hold for 1-1. Kudla then gave Delpo a taste of his own medicine with two aces as he held to love.

On most points, both alternated between the slice and two-handed backhand and ripped the forehand. They approached the net when they saw an opening and employed the drop shot and lob to great effect. Despite the lopsided scores of the first two sets, it was a highly entertaining and competitive match.

They remained on serve thru twelve games and played a tie-breaker to decide the third set. Del Potro took a commanding lead and it appeared he would close out the breaker 7-1 but Kudla refused to yield.

The American hit a remarkable cross-court forehand winner in the corner for 2-6 and Delpo netted the return for 6-3. Once again, Kudla connected on the forehand and unleashed another cross-court winner for 4-6. Suddenly, five match points disintegrate to two.

Del Potro slammed the door as Kudla’s backhand went wide and with it the set and match.

Del Potro finished with 20 aces to Kudla’s 11 and hit 36 winners to only 19 unforced errors. He converted 4/9 break points while never facing one! He won 85% of first serve points and even more impressively, 65% of second serve points.

In the third round, he will face the #31 seed, Fernando Verdasco who just took out the 2012 US Open champion, Andy Murray in four sets. Fasten your seat belts because this is going to be an all-out slugfest!

(Photo source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America)