Juan Martin del Potro was defeated in what is likely his final career match in front of home fans and family at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires Tuesday night..
The 33-year-old del Potro, who had not played since 2019 due to injuries to his knee, was defeated by his former Argentine Davis Cup teammate Federico Delbonis 6-1, 6-3.
“This is the moment I hoped would never come,” he said on Saturday in his pre-event press conference. “I don’t have the strength to go ahead. I gave it all.”
Del Potro has had multiple wrist and knee surgeries in the past decade. He once was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world and won the 2009 U.S. Open. He also won Olympic silver at the Rio Olympics and Olympic bronze at the London Olympics. Following his loss, he draped his headband over the net and hugged his mom Patricia, who watched him play in person for the first time.
In his post-match press conference, del Potro said he would leave himself open a bit to a return to tennis if a “miracle” happens and he is able to be without pain. However, he said he needs to not make tennis a priority and try to first live without pain in his knee.
Before his knee injury, del Potro suffered from a serious of wrist injuries. However, as documented in the biography of del Potro “The Gentle Giant” by Argentine reporter Sebastian Torok, (for sale and download here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559920/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_0F64H1Z1BXN7WJE5P6E0 the “Tower of Tandil” as he was also called, persisted and was able to return to the No. 3 ranking, the U.S. Open final and win Olympic silver in Rio in 2016.
