Juan Martin del Potro US Open plea answered by tournament director
Juan Martin del Potro has had his request of a potential ‘last hurrah’ at the US Open answered by tournament director, Stacey Allaster.
Del Potro has not played on the ATP tour for over a year, with his last match coming in Buenos Aires in 2022, and many thought he had retired from tennis with injuries hampering the Argentine throughout his career.
Many will remember Juan Martin del Potro for his monstrous forehand, which helped him win the 2009 US Open. But he has also consistently persevered, regardless of the hurdles in his way. #ATP50 pic.twitter.com/QuyZEoOSIy
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 13, 2022
However, last week the man that many call the ‘gentle giant’ revealed that he is hoping for at least one more match at the US Open.
“I love tennis,” said Del Potro. “It will never be a problem to pick up a racquet and see how I feel. The physical problem and my knee are things I work on every day. I will leave this window open, at least until the US Open as I said.”
The former No.3 has since continued speaking about his plans for a return, with a concentration on working on his knee, “My goal is to be ready to play an official match in the tournament. I don’t know if I will be 100% or not but, at least, if my last tennis match ever has to be this year, I want at the US Open.”
Del Potro added, “I will work hard for the last time, maybe, in my career, and then you never know. God will decide if I’m ready or not.”
Following that, the US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster has responded to the 34-year-old, “Juan Martin is a true favourite of US Open fans,”
She continued, “He is a tremendous, yet gracious, competitor and we would be thrilled for this former US Open champion to join us at this year’s tournament.”
Juan Martin del Potro and his 2009 US Open Title Run
Del Potro has such ‘special’ memories at the New York major, having won the title in 2009 and reached the final in 2018 where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Here is how Del Potro won his only Grand Slam title in 2009:
First Round – Del Potro (6) beat Juan Monaco, 6-3 6-3 6-1
Second Round – Del Potro (6) beat Jurgen Melzer, 7-6(6) 6-3 6-3
Third Round – Del Potro (6) beat Daniel Koellerer, 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-3
Fourth Round – Del Potro (6) beat Juan Carlos Ferrero (24), 6-3 6-3 6-3
Quarter-final – Del Potro (6) beat Marin Cilic (16), 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-1
Semi-final – Del Potro (6) beat Rafael Nadal (3), 6-2 6-2 6-2
Final – Del Potro (6) beat Roger Federer (1), 3-6 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2
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