Tennis: Del Potro ends long wait for ATP final return

Spain's Juan Martin del Potro gestures after victory against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. PHOTO: EPA

STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Juan Martin del Potro reached his first ATP final since January 2014 on Saturday (Oct 22) with an impressive 6-4, 7-5 win over Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the Stockholm semi-finals.

The world number 63 from Argentina, who was US Open champion in 2009 before a series of wrist injuries pushed him to the brink of retirement, will face America's Jack Sock in Sunday's final.

Sixth-seeded Sock downed German fourth seed Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the other semi-final.

Del Potro, runner-up to Andy Murray in the Olympic final in Rio in August, last played a tour final in Sydney in January 2014 when he beat home favourite Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-1.

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