It was just typical luck in the career of Juan Martin del Potro that his stellar 2018 season ended the way it did.
Last year the Argentine claimed his first maiden Masters title in Indian Wells, reached his first grand slam final in nine years at the US Open and climbed to a ranking high of third. Qualifying for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2013, it was injury that ended his momentum. At the Shanghai Masters a fall resulted in him damaging his Patella Bone (kneecap) and has sidelined him from the tour for four months.
“[I was thinking] horrible things. I thought that was the final of my life. I got the fracture in the knee that I never expected to have,” Del Potro told reporters on Monday. “After bad days I started believing in my doctor’s again that I’ll play tennis soon and I think I’m in a good way again to be competitive. After four months, I’m going to be playing a tournament, which is good [recovery] time.”
Fortunately, coming back from injury has become somewhat of a specialty for Del Potro, who has undergone no fewer than four wrist surgeries. The venue of his return is this week’s Delray Beach Open. An ATP 250 event in Florida that Del Potro last won in 2011. Last year he was knocked out in the second round by Frances Tiafoe, who went on to win the title.
“I have the experience doing comebacks, but it’s not good for me and for other players. I know it takes time and then you have to be having enough confidence to move 100 per cent, to feel the body in good shape and then the tennis part comes,” Del Potro said. “First of all I have to be healthy, and then I will start to think about tennis. But Delray Beach is a good time to see how my knee works during a match and then we’ll decide where’s going to be next.”
Del Potro is the top seed in Delray Beach, but he isn’t getting too carried about about his chances in his first event since October. This year’s field features six players in the world’s top 40. In his draw, he will open up again Yoshioto Nishioka. Then a potential second round clash with New York Open champion Reilly Opelka awaits.
“It’s a tough tournament,” Palm Beach Sports quoted Del Potro as saying. “You have big players like Isner and Frances. Kyrgios, who never knows what could happen with him. He has the power to win all the titles. And, also, many other players who can be a surprise.”
The former US Open champion will play his first round match against Nishioka on Tuesday.
