Gigantic forehand, big heart: Bye-bye, Juan Martin del Potro!
With Juan Martin del Potro , one of the most popular tennis professionals is leaving the tour. And one that will always raise the question: what would have happened if...?
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Feb 09, 2022, 12:36 pm
So James Blake got one too. Naturally. When ATP asked about the most beautiful Delpo moments last week, the American wrote: "When Juan Martin del Potro waited in the locker room for an hour until my last match was over so that he could give me a hug could."
Juan Martin del Potro had perhaps the toughest (yet most beautiful) forehand in tennis today, it was his trademark when he played. When a match is over, it's Delpo's hugs that stick.
A nice little game for tennis fans: look at photos of it and guess who won or who lost. It's not really obvious. Delpo was either comforting his opponent or himself by simply ignoring his colleague's implied handshake and resting his head on his opponent's ever lower shoulder like a big, clumsy and extremely innocent dog.
del Potro and Cesar: Who looks more innocent?
Speaking of dog. Del Potro also regularly delighted his fan base with photos of his Newfoundland dog Cesar , and the question of who looked more innocently into the camera remained one of many.
One of the biggest and more serious of course: What would have happened if del Potro hadn't been injured so often?
2009 US Open win as greatest triumph
In 2009 he won the US Open completely surprisingly, in the end he beat his killer forehand faster and faster over the net, so that opponent in the final Roger Federer looked like a veteran professional who the modern game has passed. In any case, del Potro, it seemed clear, would play an important role for the number 1 in the coming years.
It turned out differently. First his right wrist pinched and had to be operated on, later the left one. He had to go under the knife a total of four times, and finally made his comeback in 2016. del Potro had to make do with the slice more and more, but surpassed himself at the Olympics, beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to the silver medal. At the end of the year he won the Davis Cup with Argentina. And in 2018 he reached the final of the US Open again.
Fractured kneecap in 2018
Just as he was about to attack at the top again, he broke his right kneecap late in the year; after a comeback in 2019 again. Since then, Delpo has been on comeback paths after four knee surgeries with no lasting luck. He normally drives the three and a half hours from Buenos Aires to Tandil in one go, he explained a few days ago, but now he has to stop and stretch his leg, the pain is so great. His goal in life now: to sleep through the night again, pain-free. It is to be wished for him.
"Big Man with a Big Heart"
The question to what extent a healthy del Porto would have influenced the "Big Four", the race for the most major titles: it will remain open. What has found a safe place in the hearts and minds of his fans are the big and small moments in the 33-year-old's tennis life. A player who was loved by fans like no other. One that you simply fell in love with.
As James Blake put it, "A big man with a big heart. All the best for the next chapter, my friend."
We can only join.