“I haven’t run since I was 31,” Juan Martin, who is 36-year-old right now, said while opening up on his health update on Monday. Highly regarded as one of the best in the game, the Argentinean superstar won 22 titles, including one Masters 1000 singles title, which was the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, and one grand slam at the 2009 US Open. However, after years of struggles with injury, he decided to hang his racket. However, he will be seen in action against Novak Djokovic in a week’s time. Opening up on the same, he revealed how his preparations have been going.

Juan Martín del Potro is preparing for his farewell match, or “The Final Challenge,” against Novak Djokovic on December 1, at Parque Roca in Buenos Aires. “”I started my diet, I’m losing weight, I’m training. I wanna arrive that match in the best shape possible. It’s a match to say goodbye. Djokovic was very generous in accepting my invitation. I want to give him all the love possible. If at least for one, two or three hours I can be in peace and happy on a tennis court, it will be beautiful.”,” he shared, as reported by the journalist & tennis commentator, José Morgado, on November 26th.

At 30 years old, Juan Martín del Potro fractured his right kneecap during his third-round match against Borna Coric at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. The injury occurred when he slipped and landed on his knee. Del Potro initially thought the injury was minor, but he realized he couldn’t push off his right leg. Then, he re-injured the same injury in 2019 at Queen’s Club in London and has been in pain ever since, having multiple unsuccessful surgeries. As widely reported yesterday, Del Potro opened up about the physical toll.

“Nobody knew this, but the day after I played my last match against [Federico] Delbonis[at the Buenos Aires’ Round of 32], I took a flight to Switzerland and I had my fifth knee surgery,” he said, recalling his attempts to return after retiring in 2022. “I did all this process secretly and if it worked I would announce that I would comeback. I spent two months in Switzerland, in a village close to Basel trying to rehabilitate and it didn’t work.

“After two and a half months, I had my sixth surgery. I went back to the USA. More rehab, over 100 injections everywhere. Infiltrations… daily suffering. It’s been my life since that match vs Federico.” He further revealed that he hasn’t been able to run since he was 31 and struggles with daily activities.

“I can’t climb a ladder, I can’t kick a ball, I never played tennis properly again,” he said. The injuries also bring questions about his future. “Do I live 15 more years of my life like this so that, at 50, they put the prosthesis on me and live more or less well at 60?” he further stated.

Despite his struggles, Del Potro’s career remains remarkable. His 2009 US Open victory over Roger Federer. Besides Nadal and Djokovic, del Potro is the only player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam final, and the first player to defeat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam tournament. Now ready to take against one of Big 3, del Potro revealed his favorite win against Djoker. And Djokovic wasn’t far behind.!

Novak Djokovic on his famous battles with Juan Martín del Potro

Six years after their dramatic 2018 US Open final, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro reunited at Arthur Ashe Stadium during Fan Week in August. Reuniting outside the heat of competition, the two fan favorites sweated and smiled all the way through their 90-minute session in Ashe..

Del Potro, who retired in 2022 (playing his last match at Buenos Aires), last faced Djokovic in Rome in 2019 during their 20th and final tour-level match. Both players were mic’d up for a quick chat with ESPN before hitting the court. When asked about his recent Olympic gold medal, Djokovic turned the spotlight onto del Potro with a playful comment.

“My greatest success ever was beating Juan Martín del Potro in the final of the US Open in 2018,” Djokovic joked. Del Potro quickly countered, saying, “My biggest success was beating you in Rio,” referencing his silver medal victory at the 2016 Olympics. Djokovic chimed in, laughing, “And in London! Delpo is my nemesis at the Olympic Games. He’s been my slayer.”

Their lighthearted exchange brought nostalgic joy to fans while offering a glimpse into the enduring friendship between two of tennis’s most beloved players. With the two set to face each other once again, all the memories will be re-lived. What are your thoughts on this? Do let us know in the comments below!