Del Potro Sharp In Return To Desert

© Getty ImagesJuan Martin del Potro has now won six straight matches.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro returned to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the first time since winning the 2009 US Open title and posted a 6-4, 6-0 win over Czech Radek Stepanek in first-round action Thursday.

In the third meeting between the two former Top 10 players, del Potro got off to a strong start with a break of serve in the opening game. Stepanek drew level at 3-all, but promptly dropped serve. Del Potro won nine of the final 10 games to clinch the win in one hour and 24 minutes.

“I broke his serve very soon and took confidence with my serve,” said del Potro. “When I closed the first [set], I see much better my game, my forehand especially, and then I played a good match.”

The 22-year-old del Potro missed last year’s BNP Paribas Open due to a right wrist injury that limited him to just three tournaments in 2010. He captured the first title of his comeback on the eve of the year’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, winning Delray Beach without the loss of a set.

Since the start of February, he has climbed nearly 400 spots in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, entering Indian Wells at No. 90.

“Now I’m playing better than two weeks ago,” he said, “I need time to play better and better, and to have a chance to beat every player, especially in the Top 10. But I need time, I need work. Sometimes I feel a little bad sensation in my wrist, especially in humid weather, so I have many things to fight, but I’m glad with my present.”

Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals two years ago at the BNP Paribas Open (l. to Nadal), next meets defending champion Ivan Ljubicic.

Live Streaming Begins Saturday, March 12