Del Potro reveals who were his two mirrors when he started playing tennis

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Juan Martín Del Potro is currently serving as an ambassador for the upcoming edition of Roland Garros Junior, allowing us to see him in some interviews where he shares some anecdotes from the beginning of his career.

And it's undeniable: we miss Juan Martín Del Potro a lot. Even more now, in a circuit where it seems there is no player from the second tier ready to break the dominance of the two clear leaders. The Argentine hung up his racket a while ago, so now it's easier to see him at some promotional events or giving, very sparingly, some arranged interviews. Looking ahead to Roland Garros, where he will serve as an ambassador in the junior events, the player from Tandil shared some interesting statements about his beginnings, the importance of the early years on the tour, and the sentimental value Paris holds in his heart.

Juan Martín Del Potro reveals his two biggest influences

"I followed Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt a lot. I think Lleyton had a strong commitment and a very distinctive on-court personality, and he was also very pleasant. Marat had a playing style where everything he did seemed very easy. I grew up watching the two of them, although I also liked Pete Sampras. Then I played in this golden era of tennis and, although they were obviously rivals, I also had a lot of admiration for Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and all my colleagues."

Del Potro's advice for beginners

"The values that players must have, like anyone else, are respect for their work, for their coaches, dedication, effort, and hard work. I think that serves you well for a tennis career and for building your personal life. I believe that the qualities of tennis develop later, over time, and are very personal to each individual. Undoubtedly, with those values, there are many possibilities for things to go well and for children to become professionals."

The junior circuit, better without pressure

"This is a topic that is often discussed during the week, the pressure that children face as it's a unique opportunity to play at Roland Garros, to experience what it's like to be there in Paris. My advice is always that, instead of seeing it as pressure, they should approach it with joy and as a great opportunity that they are lucky to have. And even though it's a great opportunity to compete at a global level, play in a Grand Slam, and experience all of that, if things don't go well, they will have many other opportunities later on."

Why Roland Garros is special for Argentina

"For the history of Argentine tennis, Roland Garros has always been very special. Obviously, the 2004 final was historic with Gaston Gaudio's five-set victory over Guillermo Coria, where Guillermo Vilas also presented the trophy. I think that photo is very emblematic for our tennis. There has always been a natural connection between Roland Garros and South America, a strong bond with Paris, where the tournament is beautiful, very elegant, and the French audience truly understands tennis, making it very enjoyable."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Del Potro revela quiénes fueron sus dos espejos cuando empezó a jugar a tenis