Although he hasn’t played a professional tennis match in over a year and spends his days developing other projects – such as his role as ambassador since Tuesday with the Miami team in the professional padel league — Juan Martin del Potro hopes to be able to make a last lap at the United States Tennis Open.
The hard-hitting Argentinian, who triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2009, told The Associated Press via videoconference that he hopes to play “one last match” in New York in August — provided, of course, his right knee holds the shot.
“My goal is to participate in an official match in this tournament. I don’t know if I’ll be 100% or not, but at least if I’m going to play my last tennis match of my career this year, then I would like (it) to be at the United States Open, mentioned the 34 year old tennis player. I will give everything for one last time, maybe, in my sporting career, and then we will see. God alone will determine if I will be ready or not. »
Del Potro made his mark using his powerful forehand against Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer en route to winning the prestigious men’s title at Flushing Meadows 14 years ago.
“Juan Martin is very popular with US Open fans,” said tournament director Stacey Allaster. He’s a big, but elegant player, and we’d be very happy to have him with us at this year’s tournament. »
The Argentinian also distinguished himself by being a finalist at the United States Open in 2018, and by finding himself in the semi-finals of four other major tournaments. He also won the Davis Cup title in 2016, and won two Olympic medals. A series of wrist surgeries quickly derailed his career; and lately, right knee injuries limited him to just one game, in Argentina, between June 2019 and February 2022.
