Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18
Monday 19 March 2018

HILL

TOPPER

Juan Martin del Potro, of Ar-
gentina, holds up his trophy
after defeating Roger Feder-
er, of Switzerland, during the
men's final at the BNP Paribas
Open tennis tournament, Sun-
day, March 18, 2018, in Indian
Wells, Calif.
Associated Press
Del Potro

edges Federer

in 3 sets to

win Indian

Wells title

By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)
— Juan Martin del Potro
keeps surprising himself.
Close to quitting tennis af-
ter four wrist surgeries in
recent years, the Argen-
tine fought to get back to
the ATP Tour even as he
was reduced to hitting his
backhand with one hand
instead of his usual two.
The struggle paid off McIlroy blitzes back nine
Sunday, when Del Potro
staved off three match
points in the third set to to end title drought
beat top-ranked Roger Fe-
derer 6-4,7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) for
the BNP Paribas Open title.
The win ranks up there with
Del Potro's 2009 U.S. Open
title, in which he beat Fe-
derer, and helping Argen-
tina win the Davis Cup in
2016.
"I cannot believe I won this
tournament, beating Rog-
er in a great final and level
of tennis," Del Potro said.
Naomi Osaka of Japan
won the women's title 6-3,
6-2 over Russian Daria Ka- Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, celebrates after making a birdie on the 18th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer
satkina in a match-up of Invitational golf tournament Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Orlando, Fla.
20-year-old rising stars. Associated Press
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