Though he hasn’t performed an actual tennis match in additional than a 12 months and spends time on different pursuits — similar to a task with a Professional Padel League staff in Miami introduced Tuesday — Juan Martín del Potro is hoping for one closing Grand Slam hurrah on the U.S. Open.
The massive hitter from Argentina, who gained the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2009, instructed The Related Press in a video interview that he needs to “play a farewell match” there in August — if his problematic proper knee permits it.
“My aim is to be able to play an official match within the event. I don’t know if I will probably be 100% or not however, a minimum of, if my final tennis match ever needs to be this 12 months, I would like (it to be) … on the U.S. Open,” the 34-year-old del Potro stated. “I’ll work onerous for the final time, possibly, in my profession, and you then by no means know. God will determine if I’m prepared or not.”
He’s finest recognized for utilizing his booming forehand to beat Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer en path to claiming the championship in New York 14 years in the past.
“Juan Martín is a real favourite of U.S. Open followers,” event director Stacey Allaster stated. “He’s an amazing, but gracious, competitor and we might be thrilled for this former U.S. Open champion to affix us at this 12 months’s event.”
Different profession highlights embody a runner-up end in at Flushing Meadows in 2018, 4 different appearances in main semifinals, a Davis Cup title in 2016 and two Olympic medals. A collection of wrist operations derailed del Potro early on; extra not too long ago, accidents to his proper knee sidelined him from June 2019 till one match in Argentina in February 2022.
So he moved on from the tour, though he’s not fully disconnected from sports activities. He’s a strategic adviser of the possession group for Miami’s franchise within the seven-team Professional Padel League, which begins play in Might.
Del Potro stated he’ll act as “an envoy” and share what he is aware of as “an skilled athlete.”
Does he dabble in padel?
“I wish to play,” he stated. “My huge mistake is that I need to play padel (like) a tennis participant — fully the identical means. (However) whenever you hit onerous, you’ll lose the purpose. It’s fully completely different, tennis and padel. Now I’m getting used to play. I should be coached to enhance.”
Tennis teaching is likely to be one thing del Potro tries down the street, however not for now in any formal means. He does sometimes supply assist to gamers who attain out.
“They simply need to know hit the perfect forehand ever,” del Potro stated with a smile. “They simply name me, and I say, ‘OK, do that, do this.’ However for now, I’m not able to maintain touring and spend time away from house.”
He picks up a racket once in a while, though he’s been instructed to not run an excessive amount of.
In Miami not too long ago — del Potro splits his time between there and Argentina (“I attempt to comply with {the summertime},” he defined) — he met up for a espresso with an outdated pal: countrywoman Gabriela Sabatini, a member of the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame and the 1990 U.S. Open champion.
“We stated, ‘OK, let’s go hit some balls.’ We performed collectively for an hour — and it felt like I performed a five-hour match,” del Potro stated. “I used to be fully exhausted.”
In any other case, placing apart tennis, padel or different pursuits, del Potro likes being considerably idle after years of journey, observe and competitors.
“Probably the most stunning factor is that I’ve time for myself,” he stated. “I’ve time to do every part that I need to do — if I need to be at house with household or if I need to exit and drink wine or tequila. … I’ve no extra stress in my life.”
This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.