Juan Martin Del Potro on fire in Miami

Juan Martin Del Potro returns to Guido Pella during their men’s singles Miami Open match at Crandon Park Tennis Centre in Key Biscayne, Florida (USA). (Photo: AFP)

Juan Martin Del Potro, only three events into his comeback from left wrist surgery, has booked a second-round date on Friday with fellow on-the-mend star Roger Federer at the Miami Open.

Argentina’s Del Potro defeated countryman Guido Pella 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) on Wednesday in his opening match at the ATP and WTA hardcourt event, advancing to face third-ranked Federer, who underwent knee surgery February 3 and as a seed had a first-round bye.

Federer, winner of a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles, has a 15-5 career record against Del Potro. But the biggest win in the rivalry went to the South American when he outlasted Federer in the 2009 US Open final 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. Federer had won all six matches against Del Potro before that.

While Federer has won their past two meetings, in a 2013 Paris quarter-final and a round-robin match at the 2013 ATP World Finals, it has been since the 2012 London Olympics since they met on an outdoor hardcourt surface as they will Friday.

Del Potro rolled through his first set in 29 minutes, Pella having as many unforced errors, 14, as points in the set.

Novak Djokovic will face Britains Kyle Edmund in the second round ón Friday after the 21-year-old dispatched Czech Jiri Vesely 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8/6).

Hradeka downs Candian Bouchard Meanwhile in the women’s category, Czech Republics Lucie Hradeka beat slumping Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Bouchard entered the week ranked 45th in the world, 40 spots higher than Hradeka.

Hradeka set up a match with Belgiums Kirsten Flipkens.

Christina McHale outlasted Japans Misaki Doi 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 over two hours and eight minutes in a first-round match. McHale fired eight aces and dropped only seven points on her first serve in the match.