"This may be more of a farewell than a return" - Juan Martin Del Potro announces possible retirement after this year's South American claycourt swing
Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro tearfully announced on Saturday that he plans to retire from tennis after this year's South American claycourt swing.
Speaking to the press ahead of his participation at the 2022 Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, Del Potro disclosed that his knee injury had limited the scope of his tennis career over the last three years. The Argentinian did concede, however, that he couldn't wait to play in his hometown next week even though he was considering retirement.
"I know that people are expecting me to return to tennis, but this may be more of a farewell than a return... the knee continues to make me live a nightmare," Del Potro said during his press conference. "I know the limitations I have physically and we'll see later. Beyond tennis, I seek a quality of life, to live in peace, to no longer have the horrible pain I have in my knee."
"I'm going to play and I can't wait to get on the court on Tuesday. What I'm living for is what I had surgery [for] the last time," he added.
@delpotrojuan @FedeDelbonis .@delpotrojuan, quebrado: "Voy a jugar y no veo la hora de entrar en la cancha el martes. Lo que estoy viviendo es para lo que me operé la última vez (...) No podía pedir otro rival que no sea Fede, juntos compartimos los días más felices".
@delpotrojuan @FedeDelbonis "Si soy honesto tengo que decir que no vengo por una vuelta milagrosa como en otras oportunidades. Sé las limitaciones que tengo con el físico y veremos más adelante". @delpotrojuan
It is no news to tennis fans that Del Potro has been unlucky in his career when it comes to injuries. In 2018, he fractured his knee during the Shanghai Masters and picked up a second injury on his knee In 2019 during the Queen's Club Championships.
Del Potro subsequently underwent surgery on his knee but it seems as though that is not enough. The Argentinian said on Saturday that he might've raised false hopes with respect to his knee injury in the last three years. However, he didn't completely rule out the prospect of a return in the near future.
"I always overcame everything. I don't close the door to it happening again. I'm very excited because I love tennis," he said. Today I have to be honest so as not to give the wrong message, although in two and a half years I gave messages that were not in line with reality".
"AMO ESTE DEPORTE, PERO ES DIFÍCIL LIDIAR CON TANTO DOLOR" Delpo regresa al tenis simplemente para despedirse de manera oficial. Así se emocionó en conferencia. https://t.co/7dEXH11g5C
Habla @delpotrojuan: "Siempre me sobrepuse a todo. No cierro la puerta a que vuelva a pasar. Tengo mucha ilusión porque amo el tenis. Hoy tengo que ser honesto para no dar un mensaje equivocado, aunque en dos años y medio di mensajes que no eran acorde con la realidad".
"I continue to work with my doctor from Chicago; I'm going to play in Buenos Aires and Rio" - Juan Martin Del Potro
During the press conference, Del Potro also revealed that he was still working with the last doctor from Chicago who operated on his knee. The 2009 US Open winner then added that he is also going to play at this year's Rio Open, where he has received a wildcard.
"I continue to work with my doctor from Chicago, who was the last one to operate on me," the Argentinian said. "He was very supportive of this decision to play. He will continue to be my doctor. If I made further consultations, it will be with him."
"The clearest message I want to give is that I am going to play in Buenos Aires and Rio," he added. "I don't know what will happen in the future but I have to make a choice that allows me to live without pain."
Habla @delpotrojuan: "Sigo con mi médico de Chicago -el tucumano Jorge Chahla-, que fue el último que me operó. Él apoyó mucho esta decisión de jugar. Va a seguir siendo mi médico. Si haré nuevas consultas serán con él. Más allá del tenis busco calidad de vida, vivir en paz".
.@delpotrojuan: "El mensaje más claro que quiero dar es que voy a jugar en Buenos Aires, voy a jugar en Río y comunicarles que, a diferencia de otros momentos, hoy hay una posibilidad concreta de dar un corte. No pienso más a futuro".
The former World No. 3 is scheduled to take on his countryman Federico Delbonis in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires.