Del Potro opens up before his final farewell: "I have a strong condition, but.."

Óscar Belloch | 30 Nov 2024 | 20.33

Juan Martín Del Potro. Photo: Getty

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There are few tennis players who leave a mark like Juan Martín Del Potro. One of the best forehands in history coupled with imposing height solidified him as one of the few players who truly made things difficult for the top tennis legends. His official retirement from the professional circuit was on February 8, 2022, in an emotional event at the ATP Buenos Aires, but the fire that burns within him has led him to organize a farewell worthy of what his career meant for Argentine tennis.

Winner of the US Open 2009, with 22 ATP titles, Davis Cup, and the silver medal in Rio 2016 and the bronze in 2012, Juan Martín Del Potro is one of the best players Argentina has produced. At 36 years old and retired for over two years due to continuous injury struggles, he will play his farewell match against Novak Djokovic in Buenos Aires, a moment that will be a great tribute to the Tower of Tandil. In an interview for Telefe Argentina, he revealed some details of his enviable career.

- The "final challenge"

The farewell match, to be held in the Argentine capital on Sunday, December 1, has been dubbed the "final challenge" by Delpo himself: "This last showdown is a challenge both personal and emotional, a psychological task to get ready and enjoy a bit the last moment on the court, and it will indeed be the last because the day will come when I have to bid farewell forever. After this match, it's done."

A match that comes after the farewell he already had in 2022, but something inside him knew that it wasn't his last time: "Internally, when I finished playing in Buenos Aires I felt it wasn't my final moment".

- A special opponent

When the one bidding you a definitive farewell is a winner of 24 Grand Slams, it means you had a glorious career, and that's what happened to Juan Martín: "For Djokovic to come is the most beautiful prize I could have. I have a very warm, human relationship with him, and he always puts himself forward for these crazy things. He quickly responded that he was in and that we would put on a good show.".

"Djokovic was the player who troubled me the most on the court. Rafa and Roger as well, but Nole was the most, that's why he's here today. He is at his peak and doesn't age. Still, I was privileged to fight against players who have achieved such great milestones in the sport. I was one of many who occasionally bothered them in some tournaments. Watching you frustrate them was fun. Over time, you realize how difficult it was to achieve what I did, and I would choose my career in this era again; I shared a lot with the great players in history. A mix of the Big 3 makes the perfect tennis player.".

- An inseparable knee brace

Delpo wears a knee brace even when not playing because his struggles with wrist and knee injuries were so limiting that he had to give up what he loved the most: "The preparation for this match is like any tournament prep, but with physical limitations. I've refined my slice because my backhand is affected by the wrist, and besides, Djokovic already knows not to drop shots against me, and I've set some conditions, but he's the king on the court, and I follow what he dictates.".

Injuries that marked the toughest moments of his career: "The saddest moment of my career was when I injured my knee at Queens. For many years, I've had a strong ailment. These last days, I try to think less about it; in the future, I will consult with doctors to find the best solution for me".

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Del Potro se sincera antes de su despedida final: "Tengo un padecimiento fuerte, pero..."