Juan Martin del Potro warns he is ready for an assault on the top of the world rankings after winning his 16th career title at the Japan Open.
Looking at the greats engraved on the trophy – from Ken Rosewall in 1973 to four-time winner Stefan Edberg and including John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray – the Argentine said: “Amazing names. When you win this kind of tournament, it means a lot.”
Del Potro voiced confidence his victory in Tokyo would act as a springboard for a strong end to the season.
“This is a big tournament,” he said after beating Canada’s Milos Raonic 7-6 7-5.
“I played really well, beating fantastic players. It’s fantastic for me to win this title and now I’m very excited to keep improving my game because I want to get closer to the top guys.”
The towering ‘DelPo’, after victories earlier this year in Rotterdam and Washington, moves from sixth to fifth in the Race to London standings for the season-ending World Tour Finals and is also projected to rise from seven to five in the ATP rankings.
Asked about becoming a consistent threat at the grand slams and joining the world’s elite, he said: “I believe in myself, for sure. I’m working hard to improve. There is no bigger motivation than becoming number one in the world.”
Del Potro’s 2009 US Open breakthrough, where he beat Nadal in the last four before toppling Federer in the final, hit the rocks after undergoing wrist surgery the following year and missing eight months of the 2010 season.
“I beat these guys in the past and I know, if I’m healthy, if I’m playing well, I will have the chance in the future to beat them again and get closer to them in the rankings.
“I was close to beating (Novak) Djokovic at Wimbledon,” he said of his five-set defeat at this year’s All England tournament, the longest semi-final there at four hours, 43 minutes.
“I just have to be fit and healthy.”
A respiratory virus forced del Potro out of this year’s French Open before he returned strongly but his performances in Tokyo, and consequent rise in the rankings, point to a stirring finish to 2013.
