© Getty Images Sport – Matthew Stockman
Juan Martin del Potro admits not being able to compete at this year’s US Open is “really difficult” but revealed he is not giving up on his hope of having a farewell at Flushing Meadows in the future. Del Potro, 34, announced earlier this year he was targeting to come out of retirement for just one special US Open appearance.
Unfortunately, del Potro’s troublesome knee didn’t respond to the treatment as targeted and the 2009 US Open champion’s plans to compete at Flushing Meadows this year ended. After being out for two and a half years due to knee issues, del Potro returned to action in 2022 Buenos Aires for just one tournament so his retirement could come on the court.
Del Potro on not being able to compete at this year’s US Open
“Emotionally it was really difficult for me, because every time that I speak about the US Opens, it means a lot to myself. At the beginning of the year, I was talking with my team, with my doctors, trying to see the option to be ready for the Open, at least for the last time in my career.
They support me with the idea. At the end, every time that I push hard, my leg, and my knee, and I was trying to push hard, the pain increase a lot in my training sessions. At the end, I don’t want to make my knee worse that I have it now.
So I decide to quit for this year’s US Open,” del Potro told tennis.com.Del Potro may not be competing at this year’s US Open but he remains hopeful of being able to return to Flushing Meadows in the future.“I’m going to be treating the knee with a different method in the next few weeks.
I don’t know what could happen next to me. But the US Open means everything for my heart, for my career, for my life. And if there is a small chance to come back and play one day, I will do 100 percent my best to do it,” del Potro revealed.
