Juan Martin Del Potro reflects on an emotional journey to the Roland Garros semi-finals, nine years after he last made a semi-final in Paris.
The big hitting Argentine reached the semi-finals after a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 7-5 victory over third seed Marin Cilic on a partisan Suzanne Lenglen court. The fifth seed claimed victory in 3 hours and 50 minutes and after his long victory, he reflected on an emotional journey to the last four in Paris, which has included multiple wrist surgeries, “Well, as I said before, everybody knows that I was close to quit this sport two years ago, but then I, for one reason, I never give up. And I have been trying and trying every day to fix my problem in my wrist,” explained Del Potro.
“And in the end, I got it, and now I’m having a great present, looking forward for the future. And of course I didn’t expect to be in the top five again, to reach semi-finals at the big tournament after all my injuries, you know. But now it’s time to talk about my present in a good way. I think all the tougher moments of my life are completely in the past, and I’m enjoying a lot this present.”
The former US Open champion has endured a lot to be here and was even a doubt for Roland Garros this year after suffering a groin injury. However nine years after his last Roland Garros semi-final, the Argentinian is back in the last four in Paris.
In his last Roland Garros semi-final, he suffered a five set defeat to eventual champion Roger Federer, now nine years later Del Potro will face the biggest challenge that this sport has to offer and that’s trying to beat Rafael Nadal in a best out of five set match on clay. Only Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic have achieved this feat and despite a valiant effort, his compatriot Diego Schwartzman was unable to overcome the ten time champion.
However the fifth seed has confidence that he can at least test the world number one in tomorrow’s semi-final, “Well, I’m okay, because I have enough of the day left to recover. Anyway, even against Rafa, I have to give everything I have. So obviously my physical health is my priority always, but I’m feeling good today. I see how I recovered to play this tournament, and I trust in my team that they will help me recover for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s semi-final starts not before 15:30 local time after Dominic Thiem takes to court against Marco Cecchinato.
