Former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro has detailed the injuries that took his career and the pain he still experiences.
The 36-year-old’s last professional tournament came in February 2022 at the Argentina Open, when he hinted his career was over after a first-round loss. He had not played in the previous three years after breaking his knee at Queen’s in 2019.
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In an Instagram video on Monday, the Argentine opened up about how his injuries are still affecting him.
“My daily life is not what I would like. I can’t play football, I can’t play padel [tennis]. It’s terrible. They took [from] I got the chance to do what I loved most, which was playing tennis,” said Del Potro. “It’s very tough. There are times when I have no strength left. I am not indestructible. I have good things, bad things, but most of the time I have to pretend and put on a good face, but often I feel terrible. Every day when I wake up, I have to take six or seven pills. Stomach protectors, anti-inflammatories, one against anxiety. Then the pills made me gain weight, so they told me to stop eating some things.”
Del Potro said his problems started after he underwent knee surgery following his injury at Queen’s. “The doctor told me I would be playing in three months. At the end of the year I even signed up for three indoor tournaments. Since then I have never been able to climb stairs without pain. I have pain when I drive, it often hurts when I go to sleep. It has been an endless nightmare.”
However, Del Potro said he still has reasons for optimism. He says he is looking forward to playing Novak Djokovic in a farewell match in Buenos Aires next month.
“I started my diet, I’m losing weight, I’m working out. I want to arrive at that match in the best possible shape. It is a goodbye match,” Del Potro said. “Djokovic was very generous in accepting my invitation. I want to give him all the love I can. If I can be calm and happy on a tennis court for at least one, two or three hours, it will be wonderful.”
At one point in his career, it looked like Del Potro would be competing with Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in grand slam finals for years to come. As a 20-year-old, he used his huge forehand to beat Nadal and Federer on his way to winning the 2009 US Open. But injuries took their toll on his 6-foot-4 frame and he reached just one more grand slam final, finishing finishing second behind Djokovic at the 2018 US Open. He also won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, where he met Murray in the final. In total, he won 22 singles titles, including the Indian Wells Masters in 2018, when he reached a career-high world ranking of third.
