Returning to the scene of his greatest triumph, the feel-good story that is Juan Martin del Potro continued at the U.S. Open as he won his first match in New York since 2013.
Due to a succession of wrist injuries, del Potro, the 2009 Open champion, had not played at Flushing Meadows since losing to Lleyton Hewitt three years ago, but that all changed on Tuesday. Fresh from his silver-medal run in the Rio Games, del Potro got the better of fellow Argentinian Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
MORE: Must-see Open photos
"I am so glad to be part of this tournament once again after three years. I really appreciate the wild card who give me to have the chance to play, and that's important for me," the 27-year-old told reporters afterward. "Always, in every match here at the U.S. Open, the crowd make me feel special. I really like the atmosphere down there. They create another thing in every court.
"It's amazing for me just having the chance to play here once again."
Feliz de volver a mi lugar @usopen // Happy to return to my place. pic.twitter.com/n19yc70huN
— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) August 31, 2016
As he enjoys an injury-free run, del Potro was asked how close he was to retiring amid his wrist woes.
MORE: American winners of U.S. Open title
"I was really close to quitting tennis," he said, "because after the first surgery, the second one, and in the end the third one, it was really, really sad moments for me. Nobody knows what should I have (done) to fix my problem. My family and friends help me a lot to never give up. And I think I'm doing well now. The worst part of my life is totally in the past, and I'm living a good present and looking forward for a good future."
MURRAY, WAWRINKA ADVANCE
Andy Murray, who beat del Potro for Olympic gold, was largely untroubled by an unseeded Lukas Rosol, recording a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win.
Murray, the second seed and winner at Flushing Meadows in 2012, will next face Marcel Granollers.
Joining him in the last 64 is No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, who battled past Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-4.
"I was really focused on myself," Wawrinka said. "I was moving really well for the first one. I'm getting some confidence from that match."
Kei Nishikori and Dominic Thiem were among the other big names to make it through.
TOMIC, GOFFIN ELIMINATED
Seeded players Bernard Tomic and David Goffin suffered early exits.
Tomic, seeded 17th, went down to Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who progressed with a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0) win.
Goffin, the No. 12 seed, suffered a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-0 defeat against 19-year-old local favorite Jared Donaldson.
DJOKOVIC RETURNS
Top seed Novak Djokovic is in action against Jiri Vesely at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday as he deal with a right arm injury that hampered his first-round match. The day's action concludes with Rafael Nadal against Andreas Seppi, while fifth seed Milos Raonic meets Ryan Harrison.
Omnisport's David Manuca contributed to this report.