Del Potro overcomes shaky start to beat Isner in DC final

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina overcame a shaky opening set to defeat big-serving American John Isner 3-6 6-1 6-2 on Sunday and win the $1.3 million (850 thousand pounds) Citi Open, underscoring his status as a major threat at the upcoming U.S. Open.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina stretches to hit a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's semi-final tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London

Del Potro, playing in his first tournament since losing to Novak Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon semi-final, converted four of six break-point chances to win in just under 90 minutes.

After appearing tired and spraying the ball in the first set, Del Potro played near-flawless tennis the rest of the way to dispatch the eighth-seeded Isner, who won in Atlanta last week and was seeking his third title of the year.

Del Potro had trouble returning Isner's missile-like serves early in the match but broke the American twice in the second set and in the opening game of the third.

The Argentine, a three-time winner on the Washington hardcourts and 2009 U.S. Open champion, broke Isner in the seventh game of the final set to take a 5-2 lead and brushed aside three break points in the final game to win the match.

(Editing by Julian Linden)