Juan Martín del Potro
Born: September 23, 1988 in Tandil (Buenos Aires)
Height: 1.99 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Del Potro had one of the most unusual careers among players born in the 1980s. He missed almost the entire 2010 season (playing just three events that year), and then faced further interruptions in 2014 and 2015 (appearing in only six events across those two years). His third lengthy break stretched from June 2019, being ranked 12th, when he withdrew from the second round at Queen’s Club, until February 2022. When he returned for a farewell match, he was No. 737, retaining a ranking despite not competing for so long due to the COVID-related “frozen” rankings system. The first two absences resulted from a chronic left wrist injury, while the third break which actually ended his career, was due to a fractured kneecap. What’s quite intriguing about Del Potro’s successful results following his two comebacks after the wrist injury is his adaptation to a different playing style. Unable to hit his two-handed backhand with the same power as in his early years on tour, he compensated by developing a very effective slice, improving his net game, and making his forehand – already known as a powerful shot – even more lethal from 2011 onwards.
It’s a shame that injuries marred his career because when he took his first long break (January 2010), he had just won the US Open and reached the final of the first season-ending ATP Finals in London. He had already beaten Roger Federer (twice) and Rafael Nadal (three times) at their peak. At that time, it wasn’t certain that the “Big 4” would dominate for so long; instead, it could have been a “Big 5” or a different configuration altogether, as Del Potro had the potential to claim more victories in key matches against Novak Đoković and Andy Murray. His impressive ground-strokes and surprising agility for a player standing two meters tall made him a serious contender from the start of his career.
Interestingly, Del Potro wasn’t super tall as a young teenager; his height spiked as he began competing professionally, but initially he didn’t adjust his game to his stature, particularly his serve. Unlike other tall players who often rely on a powerful serve and forehand combination, Del Potro became known for his devastating forehand (paired with a solid, but not dominant, serve) which he employed effectively after patient rallies.
The year 2008 marked a breakthrough for him. Previously known for tight match losses, he matured, cut his ponytail, and adopted a more composed demeanour. This transformation led to a 23-match winning streak in the summer, earning four titles on two different surfaces (German-speaking cities: Stuttgart & Kitzbühel on clay, American ones: Los Angeles & Washington on hard) and reaching his first major quarterfinal. Despite this progress, he continued to lose to the world’s best. Another turning point came in Miami 2009 when he outlasted Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals, having trailed 0:3 with two breaks in the third set (he would later defeat Nadal in a similar manner at the 2016 Rio Olympics). This victory was significant not only because it marked his first win over a top player, but also due to the dramatic circumstances; it was the second in a series of ten straight matches he won with a deciding set tie-break, so it’s an obvious indicator the Miami victory over Nadal strengthened him mentally.
After claiming his first major title at the 2009 US Open, Del Potro stood on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and told Federer: “I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like you. You fought until the final point. You are a great champion. I’m very happy to be here with this crown, with these people, on this court. This will be in my mind forever.” Indeed, nothing surpassed that moment for another, tormented ten years of his career, but he managed to play another US Open final in 2018 (the same year he finally won a Masters 1K title – Indian Wells). The 2009 victory in New York City was even more impressive considering that nine months earlier, Federer had defeated him 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 (!) at the Australian Open and beaten him again in the French Open semifinals.
DelPo always demonstrated a strong desire to represent Argentina. At the 2012 Olympics, he earned a bronze medal despite losing a heart-breaking semifinal to Federer – the longest three-set match in history. Four years later, he went one better, securing silver in Rio de Janeiro. He also endured defeats in two Davis Cup finals (2008 and 2011) as Argentina lost to Spain, with him narrowly losing crucial matches on both occasions. The third time was the charm in 2016, as he won two epic matches, the longest ones in his career, away from home – one against Murray in Scotland in the semifinals and another against Marin Čilić, his contemporary with a similar skill set but a healthier career, in the final in Croatia. De Potro and Čilić faced each the for the first time as 14-year-old boys at the Orange Bowl.
Career record: 439-174 [ 192 events ]
Career titles: 22
Highest ranking: No. 3
Best GS results:
Australian Open (quarterfinal 2009, 2012)
Roland Garros (semifinal 2009 & 2018; quarterfinal 2012)
Wimbledon (semifinal 2013; quarterfinal 2018)
US Open (champion 2009; runner-up 2018; quarterfinal 2008, 12 & 16)
Davis Cup champion 2016 (won two rubbers in the final)
Olympics: silver medal (Rio 2016), bronze medal (London 2012)
This entry was posted in
Players. Bookmark the
permalink.
Activity: 2006 – 2019
Five-setters: 8–10 (44%)
Tie-breaks: 157–112 (58%)
Deciding 3rd set TB: 16-5 (76%)
MP matches: 7-4
Defeats by retirement: 14
Walkovers given: 4
Longest victory: Davis Cup ’16 (SF)… Andy Murray 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4… 5 hours 7 minutes
Longest defeat: Wimbledon ’18 (QF)… Rafael Nadal 5-7, 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6… 4 hours 48 minutes