Juan Martin Del Potro isn’t exactly retiring on his own terms. It’s not the way he–or anyone else in the tennis world–wants it.
But he at least managed to say goodbye while playing a match, which the Argentine did in front of the home crowd in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night. Del Potro bowed out of the Argentina Open–and likely from tennis in general–with a 6-1, 6-3 first-round loss to compatriot Federico Delbonis.
On the match court for the first time since the summer of 2019 at Queen’s Club, where his latest knee problems began, Del Potro was unable to find his game in the opening set on Tuesday. The 2009 U.S. Open champion managed to give his legion of fans something to cheer about with a relatively competitive second set, but he was unable to prolong the contest past the one-hour and 23-minute mark.
Starting at 3-3, Delbonis broke serve twice in a row–including in a final game that was delayed by an emotional moment in which Del Potro was in tears prior to serving at 3-5 as the crowd chanted his name.
“It’s difficult to explain how I felt on the court; so many emotions,” the 33-year-old said afterward. “The atmosphere was crazy, the people were crazy, and I had one of my best ever matches in my career with the crowd…. “If today was the last time, I will leave happy.”
Del Potro announced last week that either Buenos Aires or next week’s ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro would be the final event of his career. He said following Tuesday’s match that he has nothing more left to give and the pain in his knee is too much for another appearance in Rio.
So this is it…for now. But if his physical problems end up being solved in the future, the door to another return is somewhat open.
“I don’t know if it’s going to happen, because the pain in my knee is very high,” he concluded. “But I will keep doing a big effort to fix the knee, and if I get that, maybe I will have another chance to play.”
If Del Potro officially retires without playing another match, he will end his career with a Grand Slam title, as Masters 1000 title (Indian Wells 2018), two Olympic singles medals (bronze in 2012, silver in 2016), and a Davis Cup trophy (2016).
see you around, Delpo
Yeah, he was a nice fellow, very talented, shame about his injuries! Wish him the best!
I hope he fixes his knee problem and comes back to play tennis again. He’s 33 going on 34, should still be able to play some good tennis if his knee issue is resolved. With advancement in medical sciences, he may be able to find a solution.
I wish him all the best and hope that he doesn’t give up!
Very sad to see someone with so much potential having to give up his career because of injury which is beyond his control. I feel even more for him because of what he found out after his dad died recently. The anguish of wanting to grieve your dad but knowing what happened to the earnings you worked for in your short career must be unbearable.
https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/ATP_Tennis/107653/juan-martin-del-potro-s-father-allegedly-stole-30-million-from-juan-martin/
Juan Martin Del Potro’s father allegedly stole $30 million from Juan Martin
JANUARY 16, 2022 02:10
by DZEVAD MESIC
Daniel del Potro reportedly stole nearly $30 million from his son Juan Martin, television presenter Karina Mazzocco revealed. After del Potro’s father died, the former world No. 3 reportedly found about the million-dollar debts Daniel was in.
Daniel was in charge of Juan Martin’s finance from the beginning of his career. “In the bank, he should not have more than 3 million dollars. It’s a lot of money, of course, but he thought he never had to work again in his life when he realized this disaster,” Mazzocco revealed, as quoted on Essentially Sports.
“Del Potro’s father, a veterinarian by profession, swindled his own son. Juan found himself with the worst scenario when he got into the numbers.”
Del Potro was heartbroken following his father’s death
“You left us here with a broken heart, but we know that you are resting in peace as you deserve.
Now you have joined your other angel, and I ask you to please take care of us and guide Mom, my sister, and me from heaven,” del Potro said in an Instagram post last year. Del Potro has had four knee surgeries since 2019 but he is hoping to return to the court this year.
“I love the challenge,” Del Potro told ESPN of his injury struggles. “It could be a tennis challenge or a different challenge in life. “This is the toughest match of my career, because I cannot deal with these kind of injuries, this pain that I have now.
But I’m still trying and trying. “This is the life. I believe in myself that this is going to be in the past for sure. “But I think it’s also a message to the young kids, to all the players, to all the people around the world that they never have to give up following a dream and that’s what I’m doing with myself.”
That’s where you’re wrong; everything is under your control. Del Potro’s technique and style made him susceptible to premature career ending injury.
I do admire Del Potro for his mental strength and rate him in the top 10 all time in that department, but I think he got a bit lucky winning the 2009 US Open. Federer got bored half way through the 2nd set and lost focus, otherwise that was 3-zip or 4 set victory.
At that stage of his career, Federer had won so many majors that it was like winning an ATP250 event.
Hi Nadline, are you by any chance from Bosnia?
?? That’s a pretty strange question!
I had someone ask me if I was from Ukraine recently.. it’s quite odd…
I would have thought it was pretty obvious where Nadline and I are from…
Look at the author she’s quoting.
Delpo said he had been in pain for over 2 years unable to sleep. I can’t see how anyone can go on like this indefinitely.
I adore Delpo and would love to see him play more but it seems kinder to him for him to call it quits now.
God knows he’s been through an appalling ordeal with his father squandering his hard earned money.
Maybe he can become a super- coach?