Tennis isn’t tennis without its iconic rivalries-turned-friendships. Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro are a prime example of this beautiful dynamic. While Djokovic is still dominating the ATP tour, del Potro retired last year after a long battle with a wrist injury. Despite their competitive history, Djokovic has always referred to the Argentian as a “gentle giant.” And del Potro, in turn, has praised Djokovic as “not only the greatest in sport history, but also in life.” Now, as the Serb advances in the 2025 Miami Open, he’s earned praise from his former rival.

Djokovic dominated Lorenzo Musetti on a rain-plagued Tuesday, winning 6-2, 6-2. This victory marked his eighth quarterfinal appearance in Miami and his first since the event moved to Hard Rock Stadium. However, he wasn’t alone on the court! His longtime friend and former rival, Juan Martín del Potro, was spotted enjoying the atmosphere directly behind Djokovic’s coach, Andy Murray.

After defeating Musetti, Djokovic told Tennis TV with a grin, “I was starstruck! It was amazing to see first Delpo, obviously a long-time friend and a rival. So happy to have him around and to get his support from the box. It was amazing. It was the first time to have Delpo in the box, and I thank him really for coming.” Del Potro was giving the love right back!

Del Potro responded with supportive comments of his own. He wrote, “Today, I saw you from the box as your fan. I’m really impressed with how you play tennis. You are too good, amigo @DjokerNole @MiamiOpen.” This captured the true essence of their friendship, which fans have seen blossoming for years.

For those who might be new to their story, Juan Martin del Potro and Novak Djokovic have a storied rivalry and a deep friendship. They first clashed in the 2007 US Open, where Djokovic won 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Their head-to-head stands at 16-4 in favor of Djokovic. Despite their competitive matches, they have consistently shown mutual respect and camaraderie. Djokovic even highlighted taking down Del Potro as a milestone, saying, “My greatest success ever was beating Juan Martin del Potro in the final of US Open in 2018.”

In December 2024, their friendship was highlighted during del Potro’s farewell exhibition match, ‘El Ultimo Desafio’, where Djokovic participated as his opponent. During the match, the two showcased years of friendship and rivalry, but in the end, Djokovic wanted to give del Potro a final present and raised his arms, letting the Argentine take the point and win the match. He dubbed Juan Martin to be the most lovable player and bid goodbye to his rival.

Novak gets candid about Juan Martín del Potro’s legacy in his farewell match

On December 2, 2024, del Potro bid an emotional goodbye to tennis in a heartfelt exhibition match against his longtime rival, Novak Djokovic, in Buenos Aires. The event, aptly named “The Last Challenge,” drew around 15,000 fans who witnessed del Potro triumph with a score of 6-4, 7-5. He shed tears as he embraced Djokovic and laid his iconic bandana at the net, symbolizing the end of his remarkable career that he had plagued with injuries.

Del Potro’s journey was marked by resilience and passion, having won his only Grand Slam title at the 2009 US Open. However, chronic knee issues sidelined him, leading to his last competitive match in 2022. During the farewell event, he expressed gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career.

After the match, Nole praised Del Potro as not just a great player but a wonderful person, saying: “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Juan Martin. Everyone loves him very much. I come from a country that has a culture with those values, that defines a person by how they behave and the professionalism they have, but it is always important to have respect and feel that life in the eyes, in the heart, in the soul. Juan Martin is an example for all of us, and his greatest victory in life is being a wonderful person.” 

Now, just three months later, del Potro is back in the spotlight, cheering on Djokovic at the 2025 Miami Open as he aims for his 100th career title and seventh Miami Open title since 2006! He will face American Sebastian Korda in the next round on March 27. Will he be successful in hitting this milestone? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!