2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has returned back to the Big Apple at the top of his game.
The Argentinian spoke about battling back throughout his career from incessant and side-lining injuries and how he’s feeling entering the final Grand Slam of the year at 2018 US Open Media Day.
“Well, the most important thing [is] that all my injuries and problems is completely in the past. Now I’m feeling good,” del Potro told reporters on Friday. “Sometimes I have to deal with any pain on my wrist, which is normal after all my surgeries.”
Since lifting his Tiffany trophy on the hard courts of Flushing in 2009, del Potro has faced tremendous setbacks due to chronic wrist injuries, subsequently undergoing four surgeries to aid the elite player to return to his prime. And in 2018, it appears the second coming of DelPo is here.
Entering the US Open, del Potro is seeded No. 3 and is currently ranked No. 3 in the world, a career high for the 29-year-old. His ascent in rankings comes from a year of victories on the court. Del Potro reached the semifinals in Paris and the quarterfinals in Wimbledon. He left the courts in California abuzz in March after saving three championship points to defeat world No. 1 Roger Federer to take his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and his ninth win over the world No. 1, the most among all players who’ve never been ranked No. 1 themselves.
Del Potro was pleased to be back on the hard courts of Flushing, where historically he has drawn big crowds and even bigger wins.
“As everybody knows, this is my favorite tournament on tour,” del Potro told reporters on Thursday, “which is why I have big expectations playing in New York.”
Last year, del Potro had the fans on their feet and the crowds chanting his name when he rallied back from being down two-sets-to-love to defeat Dominic Thiem, 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4, in the pair’s fourth-round match.
Del Potro also acknowledged the struggles of ATP player Novak Djokovic, who recently has been facing his own challenges through injuries and, like del Potro, has been fighting to bounce back.
“He had frustration for the injury,” said del Potro. “…He comes to a tournament and he leaves early in every tournament, and that is not – it's not normal for a player like him because I have been in that situation, too.”
Despite being 4-14 against the Serb, del Potro had only positive words to say about his fellow player. “I'm happy to see him in the first positions, winning Grand Slam, winning big titles. I'm so proud what he's doing again, and hopefully he can still making history in this sport because I love him and I'm so happy for his team, as well. It's amazing. I think it's good for the tennis world.”
Del Potro is set to face a qualifier in round one of the 2018 US Open.
