US Open: The end of all suffering: “Delpo” demands the “Djoker” in the final of NYC

Juan Martin del Potro was close to the end of his career. On Sunday (22.00 CEST/Liveticker) he will play his second US Open final – against Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic after defending champion Rafael Nadal gave up.

Juan Martin del Potro had already experienced his highlight in New York in the first week of the tournament. Everything else, he thought, could only be encore. “I saw’Springsteen on Broadway’ and I had the honour of meeting him after the show,” said the Argentinian: “He is a great idol of mine. It felt like winning the title.”

The encounter with the living rock legend Bruce Springsteen behind the scenes of the Walter Kerr Theatre turned out to be only the second best thing that happened to del Potro during the US Open. On Sunday (22.00 CEST/Eurosport) he will actually play for the title against Novak Djokovic in the final. Nine years after his so far only Grand Slam victory in the same place and three years after he was about to end his tennis career.

Del Potro’s time of suffering is unparalleled, he underwent four operations on both wrists, once on the right (2010) and three times on the left (2014 and 2015). “I got depressed about that,” he told GQ magazine: “I was young, but I was sad every day.” Thanks to his friends, who cheer loudly on del Potro at every game in New York, he survived the dark days – and is back in the final of the US Open, which he won against Roger Federer of Switzerland in 2009.

The fact that he benefited in the semi-final from the task of defending champion Rafael Nadal hurt the friendly giant from Tandil: “It’s not the best way to win a match. Rafa is the greatest fighter in our sport, seeing him suffer as much as today, hurts,” said del Potro (29).

Nadal’s knee pain had become too severe on the merciless hard courts. The chronic inflammation of the patella tendons has accompanied the Spaniard for more than ten years. This is not the only reason why he can understand what del Potro means when he returns to a Grand Slam final. “I know exactly how frustrating it is when you can’t do what you want to do,” said Nadal (32).

There is also a period of uncertainty behind del Potro’s opponent in the final, Djokovic (31). Last year the Serb missed the US Open because of an elbow injury, only this summer he found his strength back. The clear victory (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) against Kei Nishikori from Japan, with whom he reached the final in New York for the eighth time, was further proof of this.

“Novak has won Wimbledon, he’s in so good shape. He’s the favourite,” said del Potro. However, this was also Federer nine years ago. “I’ll try to surprise them again,” said the third in the world rankings, who only won four of the previous 18 duels with Djokovic.

He secretly hopes for the support of his idol Bruce Springsteen, “I hope he will come to see me play. But he’s probably too busy,” del Potro said after the first week’s meeting. However: On Sunday Springsteen is free, on Broadway no show is scheduled.