Juan Martín Del Potro said that he was going to do “everything possible” to play the US Open if Argentina won the World Cup: will he keep his promise?

When Juan Martin del Potro He played his last game as a professional to date, in his loss against Federico Delbonis in the first round of the ATP in Buenos Aires, in February of last year, he took his headband and left it on the net, in a symbolic gesture that, until further notice, I would not return to the courts. A feeling that he later confirmed in the subsequent press conference, where he talked about the intense pain he felt while trying to get fit again, the demand on his body and the damage he could suffer in the long term. . But fundamentally, neither that night nor at any other time did he choose to enunciate the word “retirement”.

Currently, this decision not to completely close the door on his career is more tested than ever. In his role as tournament ambassador Roland Garros Junior Series In Rio de Janeiro, the man from Tandil was asked once again about his plans for the future in tennis, where he left a surprising definition that excited his followers: “I promised that if Argentina won the World Cup I would try to play the US Open. Now Messi and the team put me to train ”, he revealed, although he later relativized:“I still have a lot of pain. Before Qatar I didn’t have it in mind, but now I think about it a lot.”

The 2009 US Open champion did not give further details about when he would make his return, although it is clear that the New York Grand Slam would not hesitate to open the doors for him if he so wishes, as demonstrated by the warm treatment he received during the 2022 edition. which he attended as a “legend”. At the moment, Del Potro is sponsoring the Brazilian youth tournament, which will grant its male and female champions the chance to compete in the next edition of the Junior Roland Garros with a wildcard.

In the preview of that competition, he was also consulted about his career, where he told what was the only achievement that he could not obtain in his opinion: “I think the only thing I lacked is to be number 1 in the world. It was always a dream and I worked to be the best. But I’m also super proud of my career, and I never managed to be number 1 because Nadal, Federer or Djokovic were there”, he mused Delpowho did not show grudges about it: “When I look at the years of my career and with whom I was fighting to be number one It is very nice to know that they were the ones who did not let me achieve that dream”.

Expanding on the dominance of those three tennis players, who between them won a total of 64 Grand Slams, Del Potro predicted that that era is nearing its end thanks to the rise of the current generation: “You lose respect when you enter the court , and it makes everything very competitive. One day the Big 3 will end, and it will be Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner or Rune, other young people who will lead the circuit”, he assured, although he continued with the praise: “We all learned a lot from the Big 3, and for me For many years something similar will not happen again”.

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