If a tree falls in the forest… ok, so no one but the people in the stadium actually saw the match, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get unreasonably excited by the scoreline and stats.

First, let’s get one thing straight. This is a process. It’s going to be a long one. It’s one thing to get healthy and fit, it’s another thing entirely to get into match play, have to fight for points and keep your head straight. Also, Delpo has a protected ranking which will get you into tournaments, but won’t get you seeded. While that does mean that, yes, he could be facing a big name early, it also means it’s going to be tough to climb up the rankings and smaller tournaments aren’t going to be a hell of a lot easier.

That being said, who gives a damn?! The big man is back for real this time, and he picked up his first win after a short 6-7(5), 7-6(9), 7-6(3), 3 hour and 20 minute tussle with Feli. One thing is for sure, holding serve is looking pretty good right now. 21 aces, 7 doubles, 57% serving and 80% off the first serve. He was only broken once over the whole match and that came in the first set. Sure, the return game wasn’t great, but having to come back against a big serving lefty with solid volleying? A tad unfair.

More good news for the big man. He gets Florian Mayer next, and if he wins that, either Potato Starchild, Jules, or Kubot. Welcome back, good sir. Please break something in Melbourne.