Del Potro moves on at U.S. Open

Flushing Meadows, NY – Former title winner Juan Martin del Potro overcame the weather and his opponent to pull out a hard-fought victory in the first round of the U.S. Open.

The sixth-seeded 2009 champion del Potro snuck past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez by a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) margin in a match that lasted over four hours on a rainy Wednesday.

Garcia-Lopez saved three match points in the final tiebreaker before del Potro put him away.

The last time del Potro came into the U.S. Open seeded No. 6 was four years ago and he went on to capture the title.