The fourth-seeded Del Potro had been in danger of becoming the highest-ranked men’s player to be eliminated before he rallied from a break down in the fifth set to take the match 6-4 6-7 5-7 6-3 10-8 in four hours, 17 minutes.

The 30-year-old American, who twice had treatment on his right knee that had to be strapped during the match, had held a 2-0 advantage in the final set though the tall Argentine managed to fight back to put the match back on serve.

Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro will advance to the third round of the 2010 Australian Open. Del Potro managed to get a comeback 5-set victory over American James Blake 6-4 6-7(3) 5-7 6-3 10-8 in the Hisense Arena Wednesday, January 20. The match lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes.

At only 21 years old, Del Potro captured his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2009 US open after defeating Swiss Roger Federer. He was also the runner-up at the 2009 ATP World Tour Finals.

The Argentine is coming in this year’s Australian open as the no. 4 seed carrying a right wrist injury as he bids for his second grand slam title. Before beating James Blake in the second round, he survived a 4-set win over Michael Russel 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Del Potro again broke Blake for a 9-8 lead and another chance to serve it out. This time he made no mistake this time, closing with a big serve out to Blake’s backhand side on his first match point.

Blake’s best finishes in Grand Slams are three quarterfinal appearances _ at the 2008 Australian Open and the 2005 and 2006 U.S. Open. Not helping his Grand Slam career statistics is a 4-13 record in five-set matches.