Juan Martin del Potro request to have a last dance at the US Open has been answered by Stacey Allaster, the tournament director at US Open.
It is now more than a year since the Argentine appeared on the tour. His last match came in Buenos Aires in 2022 and many thought of him retiring from the professional tennis because of injury issues that have always troubled him throughout his career.
However, the Gentle Giant of the game revealed yesterday that he is considering to make it at the US major for one last time.
“I love tennis,” said Del Potro. “It will never be a problem to pick up a racquet and see how I feel. The physical problem and my knee are things I work on every day. I will leave this window open, at least until the US Open as I said.”
“My goal is to be ready to play an official match in the tournament. I don’t know if I will be 100% or not but, at least, if my last tennis match ever has to be this year, I want at the US Open,” he said.
The former world no.3 added, “I will work hard for the last time, maybe, in my career, and then you never know. God will decide if I’m ready or not.”
Responding to the Argentine’s plans, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster welcomed the 34-year old, “Juan Martin is a true favorite of US Open fans. He is a tremendous, yet gracious, competitor and we would be thrilled for this former US Open champion to join us at this year’s tournament.”
Del Potro’s Victorious Run at 2009 US Open
The 34-year old has the some ‘special’ memories at the New York, having triumphed there in 2009 and reaching final in 2018 where he was beaten by a resurgent Djokovic.
Here is how Del Potro cleared his path to a triumphant run at the US Open in 2009:
R1 – beating Juan Monaco, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
R2 – beating Jurgen Melzer, 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-3
R3 – beating Daniel Koellerer, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
R4 – beating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Quarter-final – beating Marin Čilić 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Semifinal – beating Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Final – beating Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2