"Wants to be able to sleep pain-free again": Emotional Juan Martin del Potro loses the last match of his career
Juan Martin del Potro said goodbye to the ATP tournament in Buenos Aires. Against compatriot Federico Delbonis there was little in it for him.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Feb 09, 2022, 08:04 am
The former third in the world rankings lost 6-1 and 6-3 in what was probably his last career match and was already in tears at the end of the game.
Del Potro had tried to make a comeback after dozens of surgeries since breaking his kneecap in 2018, but since 2019 it has never gone further than the training ground. He had to endure a total of four operations on his right knee. At his pre-tournament press conference in Buenos Aires, he said it was more a farewell than a comeback .
"Delpo" managed an early break against Delbonis, but after that there wasn't much to gain. Nevertheless, his tennis skills flashed from time to time, the brutal forehand, perhaps the best, but probably the toughest in world tennis. Del Potro still looked a little rusty after almost three years without a competitive match.
Even before the end of the match, the "Tower of Tandil" fought back tears in front of the home crowd, after the game he put his headband on the net - a farewell gesture.
Del Potro: Probably no more appearances in Rio de Janeiro
Del Potro had repeatedly indicated that he did not want to say goodbye to tennis at a press conference, but on the court. He was now granted that.
But was it the final farewell - after all, there was still an appearance in Rio de Janeiro next week? The 33-year-old explained that he was at peace with himself because his last game took place on this tennis court. So del Potro indirectly answered a question about Rio with no.
"To be honest, after two years of pain, I want to be able to sleep again. I want to try that starting tomorrow. Playing with this pain is very hard. I want to spend the rest of my life in peace."
Last hope for del Potro
Although, Delpo still left a back door open for his fans. If the pain in his knee went away, maybe he'd come back.
"I don't know if that will happen because the pain in my knee is so bad. But I'll do everything I can to heal the knee. If I can do that, I might have another chance to play."