STORYLINE & RULES » Potro simply hit the ball deeper,

NEW YORK -- The big man was relentless. His serves crashed down like loose boulders onto a narrow mountain road. His forehand swung from one side of the court to the other with the force of a wrecking ball, demolishing the game -- and the US Open hopes -- of the little man.It was a savage beating, and on the surface, it appeared a mismatch of the kind that would ordinarily drive a crowd howling into the corner of the smaller man.But this was different.The towering figure was 6-foot-6 Juan Martin del Potro, a former US Open champion whose career has nearly been destroyed by wrist injuries and surgeries. He was playing a much-loved underdog, 5-foot-9 David Ferrer. But nobody wanted to see the Little Beast slay the beloved giant.So the fans continually called out del Potros name; they periodically broke into the singsong chant, Ole, Ole, Ole, Delpo, Delpo. Once again, they helped lift del Potro to a win, as he overcame a sleepy start to take the third-round clash, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-3.All of New York appears to be in love with Delpo and his hard-luck story. Even Ferrer, whos almost always on the receiving end of the crowds affection, didnt have a bitter word to say about the crowds embrace of his opponent.This is a show, Ferrer said after losing. And the crowd was supporting Juan Martin del Potro. I am trying to focus on my match; I dont care.I feel I am [in] my home [country], del Potro said after the match, referring to the support he felt despite being 5,470 miles from his home in Tandil, Argentina. You make me so happy every day.Del Potro, whos 27 and in the tournament as a wild card, made his great breakthrough at the age of 20 here at Flushing Meadows with a startling and unexpected upset of Roger Federer in the 2009 final. Just months later, his right wrist became sore; rest and therapy were of no avail. He had surgery and missed all of 2010.Del Potro was barely rounding into playing shape when his left wrist went hinky. After two surgeries failed, the depressed player almost quit the game. He had one more procedure and began his comeback last summer. His ranking at the start of this year was in quadruple digits: No. 1042.Somehow, through all that grief, Delpo has managed to win the sixth-most career titles (18) of all active players.Spectators at tennis tournaments seem to know del Potros story, but thats only a partial explanation of his popularity. Many of them also respond at a more visceral level. Hes the quintessential gentle giant. Little children especially like him, said Guillermo Salatino, a veteran Argentinian broadcaster. He is like a strange thing, a giant, but he is also a nice one.Ironically, del Potro hasnt always been as popular at home as abroad. He has missed some Davis Cup ties, alienating many of his fiercely patriotic countrymen. However, del Potros inspired performance in Rio has won them over, according to Salatino. In Rio, del Potro upset top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He ultimately settled for the silver medal.Del Potro described his Rio experience as The happiest moment of my life.The moments he has experienced thus far at Flushing Meadows may be building toward a comparable peak. Theyve provided him with emotional fuel and inspiration. After his win against Steve Johnson on Thursday, del Potro said, Thats amazing when I get into the court, and the people likes just to see me. Im having great days at the US Open.Its heartwarming when a crowd of 20,000 adopts a player and showers him with the kind of love usually reserved for a lost, wet puppy. The rush is real when a player hears his name chanted. But while helpful, that support wont win you tennis matches. Del Potro is advancing inexorably in this tournament because hes a very big man hitting a very big ball like he hasnt done in a long time.As Ferrer said: He was injured two years; now he change a little bit his game. He is playing more aggressive with his forehand and with the serve.Del Potro won the match Saturday because he shook off the cobwebs and played aggressive tennis. His served clocked up to 133 mph, enabling him to win 81 percent of his first serve and 55 percent of his second-serve points. (Ferrers numbers in those key categories were 63 and 50 percent respectively.)More importantly, del Potro simply hit the ball deeper, harder and closer to the lines than Ferrer did, time and again. It counts, and it doesnt ever show up in the stat sheet.Ironically, this is how del Potros game might have evolved had he been on the tour, healthy, all these years. But in his case, necessity was the mother of invention. Del Potro still has to use his backhand sparingly if he can and slice more often than he might like.Thats why Im trying to play aggressive with my forehands, with my serves, del Potro said. Im trying to come into the net more often than years ago. Im trying to find a different way to play than I did in the past.His search is progressing nicely. Good luck to his rivals if and when he regains full use of all his shots. Jalen Davis Jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Jayrone Elliott Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.wholesaledolphinsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-josh-rosen-jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. 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Australias overall record of 6-1 is easily the best win-loss record for any overseas team in Sri Lanka.1-10 Australias win-loss record in their last 15 Tests in Asia, since the start of 2008. During this period, they have lost 2-0 to Pakistan, 4-0 to India, and 2-0 (twice) to India.4-10 Sri Lankas win-loss record in their last 15 Tests, since December 2014. During this period they have lost home series against Pakistan (2-1) and India (2-1), and away series in England (2-0) and New Zealand (2-0, twice). In this period (December 2014 onwards), their win-loss record in Tests poorer than all teams except West Indies and Bangladesh.4 Home Tests lost by Sri Lanka in 2015, the most-ever in a calendar year. They lost twice each to Pakistan and India.45.03 Australias bowling average in Asia since the start of 2008; in 15 Tests they have taken 207 wickets, an average of 13.8 wickets per match. In 46 home Tests in the same period, they have averaged 30.68 runs per wicket, and 17.8 wickets per Test. 52.63 Average for Australias spinners in their last 15 Tests in Asia, the worst among all teams since the start of 2008. Nathan Lyon has conceded 49.11 runs for each of his 26 wickets in Asia, though he did better in Sri Lanka, taking eight wickets at 36.87. His recent form has been superb too: in 15 Tests since Juune 2015, he has taken 57 wickets at 26.dddddddddddd17.1 Century for David Warner in 12 Test innings in Asia - 133 against Pakistan in Dubai in 2014. He averages 36.16 in Asia, against a career average of 50.06.24.11 Rangana Heraths bowling average in home Tests in the last two years: in 11 matches, he has taken 67 wickets, with six five-fors and two ten-wicket hauls. He also has a good record in home Tests against Australia, taking 26 wickets in five games at an average of 28.07.31.07 The batting average for Sri Lankas top seven batsmen in Tests since December 2014, lower than all teams except West Indies. Australias top seven have averaged 53.15 during this period, the highest among all teams. For Sri Lanka, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews have averaged more than 40, but Kaushal Silva has averaged only 26.79 in 24 innings, and Lahiru Thirimanne 22.30 in 22 innings.28.03 Sri Lankas average opening partnership since December 2014, lower than all teams except Pakistan and West Indies. Australia have averaged 58.38 for the first wicket in the same period, with nine century stands in 35 innings, compared to Sri Lankas one in 29.377 The target chased down in the fourth innings by Pakistan in the most recent Test in Pallekele, which is also the venue for the first Test of this series. On that occasion, Pakistan won by seven wickets after conceding a 63-run lead. The three previous Tests in Pallekele were all drawn. ' ' '