Despite being officially retired from professional tennis, Juan Martin del Potro had an opportunity to speak at a special press conference at the Rio Open – discussing his struggle with pain and rising star Joao Fonseca.
The Argentinian played his last official ATP match in 2022, before playing an exhibition match with Novak Djokovic in Argentina in late 2024 to mark the definitive end of his career.
Del Potro fractured his right kneecap for the second time in eight months during a match against Denis Shapovalov at the 2019 Queen’s event, with the Argentine undergoing multiple surgeries – all of which were unsuccessful.
“After the farewell with Djokovic in December, I felt that I was no longer a professional player, that a new chapter had begun,” said del Potro, in Rio.
“Before that day, I had always had a slight hope of returning. Tennis was my life. At this moment, I try to understand that I am a former tennis player.”
The former US Open champion has previously stated that, after the injury in June 2019, he was told by his doctor that he would likely be back on tour within three months of the surgery: “I even signed up for three indoor tournaments at the end of the year. Since that moment, I was never able to climb stairs without pain.”
Speaking back at his press conference in Rio, del Potro went on to state: “What do I need to be completely happy? To fully heal my knee. As of today, I feel pain every day.”
The former world No 3 also stated that Rio holds a special place in his heart, mainly due to his success at the 2016 Rio Olympics – where he won the silver medal: “Rio is a very special place for me. I played the Games here in 2016, and I’m very happy to be here.
“That week was one of the happiest in my career. The first round against Djokovic, the semifinals against Rafa… the medal. We broke the Argentina-Brazil rivalry. That football rivalry never happened to me.”
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18-year-old Joao Fonseca, who has lit up the tennis world in recent months, was also a subject of conversation for the one-time Grand Slam champion.
The Brazilian became the second-youngest player to win the Next Gen ATP Finals title in December 2024, before beating world No 10 Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Australian Open.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the Brazilian continued the high-quality level of tennis at Buenos Aires, lifting the ATP 250 title – with Fonseca becoming the 10th-youngest player to win an ATP title, the fourth youngest since 2000.
“The people in Brazil like me a lot, just like Argentinians do with Joao Fonseca,” said del Potro.
“It’s spectacular. He has a very powerful game, with a lot of potential. The speed, his evolution, the way he is improving, but he needs emotional support.
“In Brazil, as in Argentina, people are quick to rate you as the best, but equally quick to say you are the worst. It’s very tough.
“If there is a South American star, perhaps the ATP will treat us differently. We have unmatched fans. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, we have passion and tradition”.
Fonseca was defeated by Alexandre Muller in the first round of the Rio Open, 6-1, 7-6(4), but, after his adventures in Buenos Aires, a deep run in Rio was, perhaps, unrealistic.
The Brazilian superstar will next play at the BNP Paribas Open, in Indian Wells, after he received a wildcard for the event, taking place March 5 – March 16.
The post Juan Martin del Potro feels knee pain ‘every day’, applauds ‘sensational’ Joao Fonseca appeared first on Tennis365.
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