Del Potro will not play Rio, looks to have played his last match

As he hinted after his emotional return in Argentina last week, there will be no Rio Open for Juan Martin del Potro and the great Argentinian seems almost certain to have played his last ever professional match.

The 33-year-old, who won the US Open in 2009, reached a career-high ranking of No 3 and won the Davis Cup and two Olympic medals for his country in a glorious career, returned to the court after nearly two years off with knee trouble at this week’s Argentina Open.

Beaten by Federico Delbonis in Buenos Aires, Del Potro, who’s had four knee operations in the past two years, announced that it was likely his last match but organisers of the Rio Open, where he had also entered, still held out hope he might make it there for one last hurrah. On Friday, they admitted defeat.

Del Potro said in Buenos Aires that he just wanted to be a 33-year-old without pain and to sleep without being woken up by discomfort in his knees.

Having recovered from four wrist surgeries in his career, Del Potro suffered the knee injury on grass in the ATP event at London’s Queen’s Club in 2019 and despite all his best efforts, has not been able to get back to full fitness.

You might also like this

Farewell Juan Martin Del Potro, the “fifth Beatle” who mixed it with the Big 4

tennis majors

Del Potro falls to Delbonis in emotional affair in Buenos Aires, and bids farewell

tennis majors

Bittersweet symphony – even in a “farewell” match Del Potro demonstrated what made him a unique and legendary talent

tennis majors

VIDEO: In tears, Juan Martin Del Potro “probably” played his last tennis match in Buenos Aires

tennis majors