During the match, Juan Martin del Potro was unable to hold back his tears.
Injury-hit After losing 6-1 6-3 to fellow Argentine Federico Delbonis in the first round of the Argentina Open, Juan Martin del Potro offered an emotional farewell to his supporters while casting doubt on his plans to participate next week in Brazil.
The 33-year-old former US Open champion has a knee issue and said on Saturday that the events in Argentina and Brazil this month will be his last.
Del Potro was defeated in his first match since March 2019, and he draped his bandana on the net afterward, which the loving home fans and media took as a last farewell.
“I don’t know whether it’s going to happen, since the pain in my knee is quite high,” Del Potro told reporters. “But I will keep doing a great effort to cure the knee, and if I do that, maybe I will have another chance to play.”
Del Potro’s mother, Patricia, was in the grandstand for the first time in his professional career to witness the former world number three play in what was thought to be his farewell match in front of his home audience.
Other members of his family, as well as previous and current players, were present at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
“It’s impossible to put into words how I felt on the court. So many feelings, “he said. “The atmosphere was insane, the people were insane, and I had one of my finest ever matches with the crowd in my career.”
During the second set, Del Potro could not hold back tears as he stepped onto the line to serve at 5-3 down. The crowd responded with familiar chants of “Ole Delpo.”
A sad del Potro was unsure after Tuesday’s defeat if he could manage the Rio Open the following week.
“I’ll talk to physicians again.” “I have to take care of my knee first, and then we’ll see,” Del Potro said. “I’ll always keep the window open.” “If this is the last time I see you, I will leave pleased.”
Del Potro, who boasts one of the game’s most powerful forehands, has won 22 ATP championships since turning professional in 2005, including his sole Grand Slam victory in New York in 2009. Del Potro, who defeated Roger Federer in the 2009 US Open final, said his knee problems had turned his life into a “horror,” with four operations reducing his global ranking to 757.
