With wild card in hand, Del Potro turns attention to U.S. Open

Juan Martin Del Potro’s fortunes look like they are taking a turn for the better, no matter that he lost at the final hurdle of the Rio Olympics. Two days after winning a silver medal in men’s singles in Rio de Janeiro despite not being one of the favorites when the tournament started as far as tennis expert picks go, Del Potro received a U.S. Open wild-card invitation from the United States Tennis Association on Tuesday.

Because of recurring surgeries on his left wrist, the Argentine is ranked 141st in the world as of this week and was even lower at the time of the entry deadline for the season’s final Grand Slam. So he did not have the ranking with which to gain direct entry into the field at the U.S Open (starting on August 29).

Del Potro had to go through a distressing two-year period during which he was confined to the sidelines, missing two years’ worth of major tournaments. But the 27-year-old was finally able to get back into the action when he returned to Wimbledon in June. The frustration he has endured, dealing with the same physical issue over and over again only to eventually overcome it, manifests the will Del Potro has to win despite the challenges and difficulties in his way.

Del Potro’s upset of Stan Wawrinka in the second round at the All-England Club may have been a sign of things to come. He fared even better at the Olympics, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the opening round–definitely a highlight of his career. The 2009 U.S. Open champion also beat 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Although Del Potro eventually fell to Andy Murray in the final, he still took a step up from the bronze medal he won at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Tandil, Argentina native has been making waves ever since he began his professional tennis career. At just 20 years old in 2009, Del Potro beat Roger Federer in a five-set U.S. Open final. Many assumed that he would become the next big thing in the sport, and there is no doubt he would have accomplished so much more if his left wrist had not become such a serious issue (which severely compromised his backhand). Murray agreed that Del Potro had been destined to do even greater thing–if he maintained his physical fitness.

Since the start of his latest comeback from left-wrist surgery, the former world No. 4 has shown that he has what it takes to compete with the best players around. Del Potro’s record this season is 18-9 with two semifinal showings (Delray Beach and Stuttgart) to go along with his stellar Olympic performance. Most importantly, his wrist held up well amidst the strain of six tough matches in Rio.

The list of U.S. Open wild-card recipients also includes Frances Tiafoe, Ernesto Escobedo, Michael Mmoh, and on the women’s side Kayla Day, Lauren Davis, and Sofia Kenin.