A look back at sports
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Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
Del Potro living the dream in Shanghai and Davis Cup
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro has enjoyed a meteoric rise since July but playing in this week's Masters Cup is just the first of two dreams he will fulfill this month.
The world number eight will go straight home after the season-ending tournament for the world's top eight players to prepare for next week's Davis Cup final against Spain.
"For all tennis players it's like a dream to be here," said Del Potro after staying alive in the $4.45 million event with a 7-6 7-6 win over France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tuesday.
"But also next week will be another dream. We've never played the final in Argentina before. All the Argentina people want to win the Davis Cup so it will be great for me too."
The 20-year-old said he was disappointed world number one Rafael Nadal was out of the final because of the same knee injury that has kept the Spaniard away from Shanghai.
Although it would increase Argentina's chances of winning the trophy, he told Spanish-speaking media, he would prefer to play full-strength opposition.
Del Potro was 65th in the world as recently as July 7 before he set off on an astonishing winning streak of 23 matches and won ATP titles in Stuttgart, Kitzbuehel, Los Angeles and Washington to move into the top 10.
MAJOR ROLE
He also played a major role in getting Argentina to their third Davis Cup final, winning two singles matches including the decider, in the semi-final against Russia.
The first of those victories came against world number five Nikolay Davydenko, the player Del Potro must beat in his last group match on Thursday if he is to progress to the semi-finals in Shanghai.
"I have played him many times, I know his game," he said. "But it will be tough. All matches are tough here. It depends on my body."
His 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) frame has taken a battering this year and the back problems that blighted the early part of his season have been replaced by a toe injury.
"I haven't had time (to recover) ... I need two years to recover," joked Del Potro.
(Editing by Karolos Grohmann)
