Blake ousts del Potro in Stockholm
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}American James Blake upended former round action Wednesday at the Stockholm Open.
The two-time Stockholm titlist Blake doused the second-seeded Argentine del Potro in 6-4, 6-4 fashion in 1 hour, 27 minutes on Day 3. The American recorded a key break of serve in each set, including a match-ending one to reach the quarterfinals on the indoor hardcourts at Kungliga Tennishallen.
The 69th-ranked 31-year-old Blake and world No. 15 del Potro have now split four career matchups. The tall Argentine bested the American in Los Angeles earlier this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The former world No. 4 Blake captured this Swedish event back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.
In other second-round action, 6-foot-7 fifth-seeded African slugger Kevin Anderson came from behind to best 33-year-old oft-injured former world No. 2 star Tommy Haas of Germany, a wild card this week, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-4, and sixth-seeded up-and-coming Canadian Milos Raonic routed German Philipp Petzschner 6-3, 6-4.
Opening-round wins came for rising Aussie Bernard Tomic, promising Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and German qualifier Sebastien Rieschick on Wednesday. Dimitrov whipped American Ryan Sweeting 6-3, 6-1. The wild card Tomic, Dimitrov and the aforementioned Raonic represent three of the best young players on the ATP circuit.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tomic, who will turn 19 on Friday, should have his hands full with top-seeded French star Gael Monfils on Thursday.
The winner of this $730,000 event will collect $135,000.