Argentina Open: Tearful Juan Martin del Potro undecided if he’ll play once more after loss on comeback

Injury-hit Juan Martin del Potro bid an emotional farewell to his followers whereas casting doubt on plans to play subsequent week in Brazil after shedding 6-1 6-3 to fellow Argentine Federico Delbonis within the first spherical of the Argentina Open.

The 33-year previous former U.S. Open champion has suffered with a knee damage and instructed followers on Saturday that this month’s tournaments in Argentina and Brazil can be his final.Del Potro’s defeat on Tuesday got here in his first match since March 2019 and he hung his bandana on the web afterwards in what the adoring dwelling crowd and media interpreted as a closing farewell.Asked if followers would see him play once more, Del Potro instructed reporters: “I don’t know if it’s going to happen, because the pain in my knee is very high.”But I’ll hold doing an enormous effort to repair the knee, and if I get that, perhaps I’ll have one other likelihood to play.”In what was deemed to be his closing match in entrance of his dwelling crowd, Del Potro’s mom, Patricia, was within the stands for the primary time in his skilled profession to look at the previous world quantity three play.Other members of his household, former and present gamers had been additionally among the many spectators on the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.Top emotional tennis moments: @delpotrojuan: @TennisTV | #ArgentinaOpenpic.twitter.com/C27GXpvdoC— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 9, 2022
EMOTIONAL DEL POTRO STRUGGLES TO CONTROL TEARSAn emotional Del Potro failed to carry again tears earlier than stepping onto the road to serve at 5-3 down within the second set as acquainted chants of “Ole Delpo” reverberated across the stands.”It’s difficult to explain how I felt on the court. So many emotions,” he mentioned. “The atmosphere was crazy, the people were crazy, and I had one of my best ever matches in my career with the crowd.”With one of many sport’s heaviest forehands, Del Potro has gained 22 ATP titles since turning skilled in 2005, together with his solely Grand Slam triumph in New York in 2009.When requested after Tuesday’s match if he may handle the Rio Open subsequent week, a tearful del Potro was unclear.”I was planning on it … but I think … as I said, I gave everything until the last point and today I hope I can sleep without pain in my leg after two years,” he mentioned on court docket.”That is what I am going to try and do from tomorrow. It’s very hard to play this sport with the discomfort I have. Today I have my whole life ahead of me and I want to live in peace.”