Hewitt shocks Del Potro to progress

Fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro became Wimbledon’s biggest casualty so far this year when he was beaten in straight sets by former champion Lleyton Hewitt on Centre Court.

The Argentinian had the ranking advantage – number five in the world compared to his opponent’s 56th position – but Hewitt has the grass-court pedigree having won the title in 2002 and reached at least the fourth round for the last five years in succession.

It was a story of missed chances in the second-round match for Del Potro, who converted just one of his eight break points, while Hewitt pounced at the right moments to seal a 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory.

Del Potro took Rafael Nadal’s place at the top of the draw following the number one seed’s withdrawal and he must have been dismayed to face such a classy opponent so early on.

He had four chances to break in the fifth game but a combination of superb serving from Hewitt and missed groundstrokes from the 20-year-old gave the Australian the game.

And he capitalised straight away by breaking in the next game after a Hawk-Eye challenge from Del Potro showed Hewitt’s shot to be well inside the line.

Del Potro then had two more break points in the next game, one of which he set up following an amazing rally that featured some trademark Hewitt retrieving, but again they went begging.

And 28-year-old Hewitt clinched the set with ease on his next service game.

Del Potro had slipped attempting to retrieve a cross-court shot midway through the opening set and had strapping applied just below his right knee at the change of ends.

There was no doubt the Argentinian was trying, Del Potro hurdling the net after attempting in vain to retrieve a Hewitt drop shot that had dribbled over.

The Australian was serving particularly well, firing down 14 aces in the match and allowing Del Potro little chance to find any rhythm on his booming groundstrokes.

The fifth seed was also holding serve easily but he wobbled in the 10th game, with a double fault setting up a break point for Hewitt, which he took when Del Potro tamely found the net, prompting a trademark fist-pumping celebration.

The former champion then found himself break point down serving for the set, but a woeful return from Del Potro summed up his frustration and Hewitt took a two-set advantage with a smash into the open court.

Del Potro’s head had certainly begun to drop at the end of the second set and he found himself 0-40 down in the opening game of the third.

He saved those three break points and one more but, on the fifth, a fourth double fault – and second of the game – put Hewitt firmly on course for a third-round spot.

The 6ft 6in Del Potro was struggling to get down to the low bounce of Hewitt’s groundstrokes but he made a noticeable effort to break back in the eighth game, throwing himself across the net in an attempt to reach one passing shot.

Deuce was the best he achieved on that occasion but two games later, with Hewitt serving for the match, Del Potro at last took advantage of a break point to level at 5-5.

His joy was short-lived, however, as Hewitt responded in kind when Del Potro tamely dumped a half-court backhand into the net. And this time Hewitt made his serve count, despite a double fault on his first match point, to clinch a surprisingly comprehensive win.

The Australian will fancy his chances of progressing further, with either Mischa Zverev or Philipp Petzschner awaiting in the next round.