Tennis Update: Juan Martin del Potro Returns to the Game
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro is now the third-ranked player in his country, while he is World Number 35 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). It has been a year filled with ups and downs for Potro; in January 2010, he reached his career high
ranking of World Number 4. Over the past nine months, this has fallen drastically to World Number 35.
His singles record is at a 66.8% success rate, with 141 wins over 70 losses. He has won 7 career titles, and one Grand Slam tournament. His doubles run also shows potential, with a career record of 20 wins to 18 losses, 1 career title and a career high ranking
of World Number 4.
The previous year was undoubtedly one of Potro’s finest runs ever. He achieved his first Grand Slam title at the 2009 US Open tournament, beating the world’s best players in the process. He defeated Rafael “Rafa” Nadal in the semi final, and also managed
to upset Roger Federer in the final, making him the first man ever to defeat both Rafa and the Maestro within the same Grand Slam tournament. He is the second Argentine, and fifth youngest man to capture the US Open trophy in the Open Era.
However, this year has been particularly difficult for the pro tennis player, who turns 22 years old today. Soon after he was awarded World Number 4 on the ATP ranking, he suffered a wrist injury, forcing him to withdraw from his match against French player
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on day two of the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament. He competed in the 2010 Australian Open with an unhealed wrist, making the tournament exceptionally difficult for him; he battled with the injury, fatigue and exhaustion to outdo Michael
Russell, James Blake and Florian Mayer before falling to Marin Cilic in the fourth round. His ranking dropped one spot to World Number 5.
Del Potro was forced to drop out from numerous tournaments and matches, such as the Masters tournaments at locations like Indian Wells and Miami, the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Barcelona and the Rome Masters, as a consequence of his wrist injury. The week
that he was slated to return, Potro announced a change of plan and opted to have surgery on his hand. After the surgery, he also revealed that he would not be able to defend his US Open title. On the 2nd of August, the player used Twitter to announce,
“So nice to hit the ball again... I had the racket in my hand.”
Now, on the 22nd of September, Juan Martin del Potro issued another tweet confirming his participation in the Thailand Open next week, saying:
“I am extremely happy to tell you: I WILL PLAY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! Will be in the BANGKOK tournament next Monday. Thanks so much for everything!”
It is unlikely that the Argentine will set the tournament ablaze; after all, he has been out of practice for several months now, and the injury must have taken its toll on his game. However, his coach Franco Davin seems upbeat about his practice, and if
Potro can take away a few good matches and get back in form where his wrist is concerned, his chances for a strong run in the next year will improve greatly.
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