Juan Monaco pays tribute to Juan Martin del Potro
Juan Monaco has paid tribute to Juan Martin del Potro after the former world No. 3 was thought to play the last match of his career. On Saturday, del Potro said he could likely end his career after playing in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
Del Potro fractured his kneecap at Queen’s Club in 2019 and underwent four surgeries to repair the damage. Del Potro was able to return to the court, but the troublesome knee is still causing him pain.
On Tuesday, the Argentine suffered a 6-1 6-3 loss to Federico Delbonis in the first round of the Buenos Aires tournament.
“Together we had great times, today I’m sad because I know how much you love this sport, I wish you the best in everything that comes!
@delpotrojuan you leave a huge legacy!” Monaco tweeted.
Del Potro might not play in Rio de Janeiro
“Now I’m calm because maybe my last game was on the court and not in a press conference.
I will always remember that,” Del Potro said after the game. Del Potro played his first game in two and a half years. After the game, del Potro admitted that the announcement of his retirement was something extremely chosen difficult for him.
“The truth is that it’s a moment that I didn’t want to see happen. Health makes me have to make a decision: I tried too hard in these two and a half years,” admitted del Potro.
“Sometimes I can lose. I don’t have the strength that everyone thinks. I think I have fulfilled all the dreams of tennis and the hardest thing to achieve, which is people’s affection.
I feel like I gave it my all. It’s a day I didn’t want to see happen, but I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.” Del Potro won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2009.