Juan Martin del Potro is refusing to give up on his goal of playing at the US Open one more time as he undergoes a new treatment on his knee.
The 34-year-old has been hampered by injury in recent years and hasn’t played a match on the Tour since his first round loss at the 2022 Argentina Open. Del Potro had recently been training on the court in the hope that he could be fully fit in time to play at this year’s New York Grand Slam. However, he has been forced to abandon those plans. In a statement written in Spanish last week, the former world No.3 said ‘my body is not 100 per cent with me to let me feel comfortable’ to play.
“Emotionally it was really difficult for me because every time that I speak about the US Open, it means a lot to myself,” Del Potro said of his decision during an interview with tennis.com.
“At the beginning of the year, I was talking with my team, with my doctors, trying to see the option to be ready for the Open, at least for the last time in my career.’
“They support me with the idea. At the end, every time that I push hard, my leg, and my knee, and I was trying to push hard, the pain increased a lot in my training sessions. I don’t want to make my knee worse than I have it now. So I decided to quit for this year’s US Open.”
Del Potro has won 22 ATP titles during his career and recorded 10 wins over world No.1 players which is the most by somebody on the ATP Tour who has never topped the rankings. His career prize money earnings are almost $26M.
The US Open was where the Argentine won his first and only major title. In 2009 he scored back-to-back wins over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to win the tournament at the age of 20. He also reached the final in 2018 when he was beaten in straight sets by Novak Djokovic.
It is unknown if Del Potro will be able to return to the Tour again and fulfil his dream of playing at Flushing Meadows one more time. The odds may be against him but he is determined to find a solution.
“I’m going to be treating the knee with a different method in the next few weeks,” he revealed.
“I don’t know what could happen next to me. But the US Open means everything for my heart, for my career, for my life. And if there is a small chance to come back and play one day, I will do 100 per cent my best to do it.”
Forced to be watching this year’s tournament from the sidelines, one of the players he will be keeping an eye on is the top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz who he says has an impressive forehand. Del Potro’s signature shot is his thunderous forehand which was described as one of the best shots on the men’s Tour when he was at the top of his game.
“I don’t know if someone has the hammer (a reference to his forehand) now, but I think Carlitos Alcaraz. He hit his forehand really strong too.” He said.
“He has also a potential to hit better in the future years. I’m crazy about his game, about his charisma. I like a lot the way that he moves in the court. And I think he’s making very good things for the sport.’
“After the Big 3 moves out, the transition is going to be in good hands with Carlitos, with Jannik Sinner also. These guys have the potential to be at the top for the next years.”
Del Potro has played in the main draw of the US Open 10 times during his career. This year’s tournament will begin next Monday.
