‘Nightmare’: Juan Martín del Potro lives with daily pain after tennis career

Former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro has detailed the toll injuries took on his career and the pain he still experiences.

The 36-year-old’s last professional tournament came in February 2022 at the Argentina Open, when he hinted his career was over after a first-round loss. He had not played in the three years before that after fracturing his knee at Queen’s in 2019.

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In an Instagram video on Monday, the Argentinian spoke about how his injuries still affect him.

“My daily life isn’t what I would like it to be. I can’t play football, I can’t play padel [tennis]. It’s terrible. They took [from] me the chance to do what I loved the most, which was to play tennis,” said Del Potro. “It’s very tough. There are moments where I have no more strength. I’m not indestructible. I have good things, bad things but most of the times I have to fake it and put a good face, but many times I feel terrible. Every day when I wake up I have to take six or seven pills. Gastric protectors, anti-inflammatories, one for anxiety. Then the pills made me gain weight so they told me to stop eating some things”.

Del Potro said his problems had started after he had knee surgery following his injury at Queen’s. “The doctor told me I would play in three months. I even signed up for three indoor tournaments at the end of the year. Since that moment, I was never able to climb stairs without pain. I hurts when I drive, it hurts many times when I go to sleep. It’s been a never-ending nightmare.”

However, Del Potro said he still has grounds for optimism. He says he is looking forward to playing Novak Djokovic in a farewell exhibition match in Buenos Aires next month.

“I started my diet, I’m losing weight, I’m training. I want to arrive at that match in the best shape possible. It’s a match to say goodbye,” Del Potro said. “Djokovic was very generous in accepting my invitation. I want to give him all the love possible. If at least for one, two or three hours I can be at peace and happy on a tennis court, it will be beautiful.”

At one point in his career, Del Potro looked like he would compete with Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in grand slam finals for years. As a 20-year-old he used his huge forehand to beat Nadal and Federer on his way to winning the 2009 US Open. But injuries took their toll on his 6ft 6in frame and he reached only one more grand slam final, finishing runner-up to Djokovic at the 2018 US Open. He also won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, where he met Murray in the final. Altogether he won 22 singles titles, including the Indian Wells Masters in 2018 when he reached a career high world ranking of No 3.