Buenos Aires Streets Prepare Special Tribute for Juan Martín Del Potro Ahead of a Possible Farewell Match
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Buenos Aires Streets Prepare Special Tribute for Juan Martín Del Potro Ahead of a Possible Farewell Match
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14. Silver medalist Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina waves during the medal ceremony for the men’s singles on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14. Silver medalist Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina waves during the medal ceremony for the men’s singles on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Juan Martin del Potro, an Argentinian hero, recently hinted that he might be taking retirement from competitive tournaments soon. He has been suffering from a knee injury for the last two and a half years, the reason for the retirement decision. His country’s capital, Buenos Aires, didn’t miss the chance to shower love for their national hero.
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Juan Martin del Potro receives respect from the streets of Buenos Aires
A street in Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, held a banner which read, “The sentiment of an entire country.” Del Potro, loved by many in the country, will play his last ATP Tour matches in Argentina.
El sentimiento de todo un país. ❤️🇦🇷 https://t.co/wbyNvSphL3
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) February 8, 2022
The former US Open Champion is set to start the tournament against fellow countryman Federico Delbonis. Potro has confirmed that his mother, who had never been to the Argentinian’s match before, will also be present for the match. Del Potro is expected to receive grand welcome to the court from the audiences that adore him.
Del Potro was emotional in his press conference because he was already ready with the decision. The 33-year-old had a clear idea about the knee condition, and he had to make the heavy-hearted decision.
“People are expecting me to return to tennis, but this may be more of a farewell than a return. I have strength to go forward but my knee is becoming a nightmare. I have been trying alternative treatments for a number of years, with different doctors and attempts to fix it,” Potro said in the conference.
Juan has been struggling with injuries throughout his career. His long absence dropped his ranking radically, as of now, he ranks 757 in the ATP Circuit.
Del Potro’s proud career
Del Potro was one player shining brightly in the “Big 3” era. Though his championships and titles count do not do justice to his quality game, he did his best to give tough competition to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Toni Nadal: “Del Potro is the unluckiest man in tennis. If he didn’t have so many injuries, he would have competed with the Big 3 in a constant way and fought to become world No. 1” 😭
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) February 5, 2022
He won his solo Major tournament defeating Rafael Nadal in the Semis and Roger Federer in the 2009 US Open Final. Besides Nadal and Djokovic, del Potro became the only player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam final. Also, the first player to defeat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam tournament.
What is your opinion about his retirement?
