Away from professional tennis, Juan Martín Del Potro confirmed his retirement on February 8, 2022 when he fell against his compatriot, Federico Delbonis, at the Argentina Open. After that defeat, he made official what was already written to end his professional career.
However, tennis fans continue to remember him, and one of them, a Twitter user named Richard Montalbán, who in his professional activity filled his mailbox with incessant emails of support, and with various advice. On @RMontalban_ok’s profile, the person’s description reads, ‘Ex-professional padel player. I advise Del Potro on Facebook and I write e-mails to him, now I’m also a Twitter user. Champion of the Asuncion Open in 98’.
Since 2018, Richard has used his Twitter account to leave messages to Juan Martín del Potro, one of his emails said, ‘when you were faced with a “serious” player, like Nadal, you hardly had the legs to run. You have to admit that getting injured was your ticket to the final. Today the pingos were seen. I saw you insecure, afraid and tired; already thinking about going on vacation to the beach. In an email I wrote to you “never believe that the sun hides when you don’t see it”; and today the sun came out (for the Serbian Djokovic) and filled your face with light’.
That is just one of the tireless messages that came from Richard Montalbán to the retired Argentine tennis player, Juan Martín Del Potro. His insistence had a happy ending, because of so many unanswered comments of support, Tandil’s responded.
‘Richard, good afternoon. Today, retired, and far from my professional career, I have to admit that you have my balls full. The only thing you can coach is an advanced course in eating pasta and calories. I hope you are well and I wish you the best of luck. A cordial greeting,’ said Juan Martín del Potro in an amusing and desperate manner due to the harassment of his’ personal coach, Richard Montalbán.
After receiving his long-awaited response, Richard Montalbán told him, ‘after so many years of insistence, Juan Martín finally answered one of my emails. It is not the answer he expected, but I appreciate his sincerity and I wish him the greatest success in his new stage, outside of professional tennis. I am a free agent for hiring’.
In turn, he also wrote to him, ‘You have been a magnificent tennis player, young Del Potro. Finally, and after so much insisting, I was able to have my long-awaited answer. It is a pride to have him as one of the greatest exponents in the history of Argentine tennis. I send a big hug. Greetings. Richard’, after these messages and the proud Richard Montalbán, the conversation went viral on social networks. More than anything because of the humorous response of Juan Martín Del Potro.
