Emotional Tennis Moment as Juan Martin del Potro Embraces Novak Djokovic in Argentina After His Big-Hearted Gesture

Argentinean ATP star Juan Martin del Potro is experiencing bittersweet emotions. At one point, he prepares for his final match in his home country; on the other, he shares a heartwarming moment with longtime rival Novak Djokovic. As he prepares to step onto the court one last time, del Potro reflects on his deep bond with the Serb, showcasing how some rivalries can evolve into beautiful friendships with beautiful emotions.

Juan Martin del Potro is all set to retire today, playing one last match against his old rival Novak Djokovic. The Argentinean player was off-court from 2019 to 2022 due to a severe knee injury. He fractured his kneecap during a first-round match against Denis Shapovalov at the 2019 Queen’s Club Championships. Although del Potro bid an emotional farewell at the Buenos Aires ATP 250 in February 2022, he will now appear on the court one last time in an exhibition match against the Serb. When asked about his decision, del Potro explained, “Internally, when I finished playing in Buenos Aires, I felt it wasn’t my final moment.” Throughout their careers, the Serbian and Argentinean players faced off nineteen times, with del Potro winning only four matches. However, their equation transcended rivalry, evolving into a deep friendship. It became more evident when Djokovic arrived in Buenos Aires to support his old friend during the off-season.

The Tennis Letter captured the adorable reunion, tweeting a clip of Djokovic arriving by private jet and sharing a warm hug with del Potro in Buenos Aires. The post said, “Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro share a hug as Novak arrives for Delpo’s farewell match in Buenos Aires. So many great moments between these two legends. One last time.” The emotional scene resonated deeply with the tennis fraternity, highlighting an unexplored friendship between two talents.

Interestingly, the Argentinean ATP star poured his heart out on social media before his final showdown, expressing deep gratitude to the Serb for accepting his invitation. “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, for one, two, or three hours, I can be at peace and happy on a tennis court, it will be beautiful,” said del Potro.

While the Argentinean’s words emphasize his intense love for the sport, he also revealed his ultimate choice to step away from the sport he admired so deeply. “The doctor told me I would play in three months [after the Queen’s injury]. I even signed up for three indoor tournaments at the end of the year. Since that moment, I’ve never been able to climb stairs without pain. It hurts when I drive; it hurts many times when I go to sleep. It’s been a never-ending nightmare,” he confessed, illustrating how his knee injury shattered his career dreams. He added, “When I played my last match against [Federico] Delbonis [at the Argentina Open in February 2022], the next day I took a flight to Switzerland and had another knee operation. That was my fifth surgery.” His words shed light on his relentless pain and struggle forcing him to bid farewell to professional tennis.

Despite everything, this final match between these two legends holds special meaning for everyone, given del Potro’s deep friendship with the Serb. On an emotional note, he revealed how Djokovic has been a pillar of support for him, sharing a bond that may have been built by the on-court rivalry but has withstood the test of time.

Juan Martin del Potro emotionally revealed Novak Djokovic’s support for The Final Challenge

In an interview with La Nacion, this Argentinean ATP star reflected on a beautiful evening spent with the Serb reminiscing their old days, rivalry, and support for each other. Revealing how Djokovic said to “count on” him, del Potro further shared, “One day in Miami he called me and said ‘Delpo, I know you’re here, I want to go to dinner together to talk’. Obviously I cancelled all my plans and went to dinner, It was a spectacular talk that we would never have imagined in competition. These are beautiful things that tennis gives you once you’re no longer there fighting for points. And after hours of talking and getting more comfortable, he said: ‘Well, tell me about your life. What are you doing? How are you? There are some news that circulated, is it true or false? How are you with that?’ Then he said to me: ‘Well, let’s get to the point. Is it true that you want to say goodbye, to play a match in Argentina?’” Del Potro’s revelations highlight how some rivalries end up in true friendships that last over decades.

This ATP star also mentioned what he said to Djokovic: “I told him how I felt: ‘The only way this can go forward is if you want to accompany me that day. If not, I will not be emotionally prepared to face this and I am not convinced either.’” His words highlighted how intensely he wanted his farewell match to be against a player he admires and relies on so much as a friend. Now, with the match taking place in a few hours, tennis fandom is eager to capture more such adorable moments. What are your thoughts?