Juan Martin del Potro has reported via video message after his serious knee injury and his cancelled participation in the ATP finals in London. The Argentinean reported on difficult hours – and comeback plans.
The hair seemed shorter than last – and the smile had returned. “Delpo” seemed visibly tidy when he made contact with his fans via the social media these days. The 30-year-old smiled again and again, but he also spoke with a serious expression about dark hours he had to experience after his new injury, a fracture of the right kneecap.
“I had a feeling the world was falling apart. In recent years I have been able to gain experience with injuries to the wrist. But I never expected anything like this to happen again,” del Potro said.
Even today it is difficult for him to think about his cancelled participation in the ATP finals (starting Sunday). It’s hard not to finish “one of my best seasons” in London, emphasized the fourth-placed player in the world rankings.
But the “Tower of Tandil” was already fighting again. “I’m willing to keep playing, even if it’s not easy. It’s a fight against bad thoughts, but I’ll do everything I can to have fun playing again and leave those thoughts behind.”
del Potro did not make any concrete statements at the time of his comeback, but the current rehabilitation is going well, as he reported. “I feel better and that gives me confidence and strengthens my desire to keep playing,” said the 2009 US Open champion.
The reigning Flushing Meadows finalist del Potro slipped against Borna Coric in the Shanghai Round of 16 in mid-October and broke his kneecap in the crash. The 1.98 meter tall Argentinian, called “El Palito” (“The Beanpole”), thus remains one of the most unlucky birds in the circuit.
The public darling, gentle giant type, had fought his way back into the top 3 again in the past season, after having to endure a total of four wrist operations and depressive moods over the past few years. Del Potro had temporarily crashed to place 1045 (February 2016) of the ranking.