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Juan Martin Del Potro, Who Retired Ahead of Serena Williams and Roger Federer, Delivers Poignant Message About Life Post Tennis: ‘Didn’t Have a Gradual Transition’

Published 09/28/2022, 11:30 AM EDT

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via Reuters

Tennis can sometimes become a hectic and demanding sport. There are several factors that weigh in while making a renowned professional. It isn’t always about the skills a player harbors. The game requires extensive mental strength and is injury prone. In this sport, every competitor suffers some in-match injuries and only the intensity varies and that can change the entire future of the player. Something of that sort happened with Juan Martin del Potro.

Del Potro incurred a pestering knee injury that ultimately took away his illustrious career. The Argentine tennis professional recently shared his feelings about the same after masking it for months.

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Juan Martin del Potro shares his dissatisfaction

The 2009 US Open champion expressed his frustration and said, “I can’t psychologically accept a life without tennis. I did not have a gradual transition to the after. I did not prepare.”

Thereafter, he added, “I was number 3 in the world, then suddenly I broke my knees and here I am, with nothing.” del Potro claimed his career highest ranking of World no.3 after almost a decade of defeating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to win the US Open. As wrist injuries followed by a knee injury, slowed down in reign and forced him to stay on the sidelines.

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Read more: ‘Fulfilled All the Dreams I Had’: Juan Martin Del Potro Bids Adieu to the Sport in a Heart-Breaking Interview Post Buenos Aires Loss

At first, just a few months post his victory in the hard courts of America, he incurred a wrist injury, which demanded surgery. Thus making him unable to defend his only Grand Slam title in the next season.

via Getty

Thereafter, in 2014, he was pushed to undergo a second wrist surgery. This time, the recovery period last for almost two years. Then came the knee injury, which eventually ended the right-handed tennis ace’s career. He suffered two kneecap fractures in a span of eight months and underwent four surgeries. Also, there were other injuries along the as well.

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del Potro’s farewell match

The two times French Open semifinalist bid farewell to professional tennis this season. He chose the Argentine Open to mark the end of his injury-ridden career. The 6-foot-6 bomber, affectionately known as the Tower of Tandil on 9th February, performed his last dance.

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Watch this story: The Greatest Comebacks in Tennis

He locked horns with compatriot and the former World No.33 Federico Delbonis, in the clay courts of the ATP 250 event. The 34-year-old secured one game in the first set and three in the second set and, with that defeat, walked out of the sport.

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Written by:

Mahima Verma

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Mahima Verma is a Tennis writer for EssentiallySports. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management from IHM Mumbai. A sports enthusiast, particularly Tennis since her childhood, Mahima believes that she is fortunate enough to witness the legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams play.
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Edited by:

Pritam Priyedarshi