Juan Martin Del Potro, Who Retired Ahead of Serena Williams and Roger Federer, Delivers Poignant Message About Life Post Tennis: ‘Didn’t Have a Gradual Transition’

Tennis can sometimes become a hectic and demanding sport. There are several factors that weigh in while making a renowned professional. It isn’t always about the skills a player harbors. The game requires extensive mental strength and is injury prone. In this sport, every competitor suffers some in-match injuries and only the intensity varies and that can change the entire future of the player. Something of that sort happened with Juan Martin del Potro.

Del Potro incurred a pestering knee injury that ultimately took away his illustrious career. The Argentine tennis professional recently shared his feelings about the same after masking it for months.

Juan Martin del Potro shares his dissatisfaction

The 2009 US Open champion expressed his frustration and said, “I can’t psychologically accept a life without tennis. I did not have a gradual transition to the after. I did not prepare.”

Thereafter, he added, “I was number 3 in the world, then suddenly I broke my knees and here I am, with nothing.” del Potro claimed his career highest ranking of World no.3 after almost a decade of defeating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to win the US Open. As wrist injuries followed by a knee injury, slowed down in reign and forced him to stay on the sidelines.

Read more: ‘Fulfilled All the Dreams I Had’: Juan Martin Del Potro Bids Adieu to the Sport in a Heart-Breaking Interview Post Buenos Aires Loss

At first, just a few months post his victory in the hard courts of America, he incurred a wrist injury, which demanded surgery. Thus making him unable to defend his only Grand Slam title in the next season.

Thereafter, in 2014, he was pushed to undergo a second wrist surgery. This time, the recovery period last for almost two years. Then came the knee injury, which eventually ended the right-handed tennis ace’s career. He suffered two kneecap fractures in a span of eight months and underwent four surgeries. Also, there were other injuries along the as well.

del Potro’s farewell match

The two times French Open semifinalist bid farewell to professional tennis this season. He chose the Argentine Open to mark the end of his injury-ridden career. The 6-foot-6 bomber, affectionately known as the Tower of Tandil on 9th February, performed his last dance.

Watch this story: The Greatest Comebacks in Tennis

He locked horns with compatriot and the former World No.33 Federico Delbonis, in the clay courts of the ATP 250 event. The 34-year-old secured one game in the first set and three in the second set and, with that defeat, walked out of the sport.