Top 3 best matches of Juan Martin del Potro
Juan Martin Del Potro will go down as one of the greatest 'what ifs' in tennis history following a series of injuries in his career.
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Juan Martin Del Potro, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (Image via X)
The 2024 men’s tennis season will be remembered as one of the most emotional in recent history. Several high-profile players retired from the sport, including 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.
The tall Argentine endured a long-term battle with injuries and surgeries after his breakthrough in 2009 when he won his maiden Grand Slam title. Despite multiple comebacks, his body ultimately could no longer sustain the demands of professional tennis.
Del Potro played his final match in an exhibition in Buenos Aires against Novak Djokovic on Sunday (December 1). With his official farewell now complete, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on the top three matches of his career.
1) Domination against Rafael Nadal in the US Open 2009 semifinal
Juan Martin del Potro delivered one of the most dominant performances of his career in the 2009 US Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard was aiming to join Roger Federer as a player to win both hard-court Grand Slam events in the same season, following his Australian Open victory earlier that year.
However, Del Potro completely overwhelmed Nadal. The 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 scoreline remains one of Nadal’s most lopsided defeats in a Grand Slam, particularly against a non-‘Big 3’ opponent.
Del Potro’s strategy was to neutralize Nadal’s forehand by hitting flat, catching him off guard. This approach allowed Del Potro to repeatedly set up winners from the center of the court.
With this win, Del Potro set up a final against five-time defending champion Federer. The two had already clashed in a memorable five-set battle at Roland Garros earlier that year, where the Swiss Maestro narrowly emerged victorious.
2) Dethrones Roger Federer to win his first Grand Slam title in US Open 2009
Talking about the US Open final that year, it comes second on our list. Juan Martin del Potro ended Roger Federer’s 40-match unbeaten streak at the US Open to claim his first (and only) Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
The towering Argentine triumphed 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, becoming the first Argentine since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win a Grand Slam. This victory also marked Del Potro’s first win over Federer in their head-to-head encounters.
Del Potro’s win broke several of Federer’s win streaks. Besides ending his US Open winning streak, it was the first time Federer lost a Grand Slam final after leading two sets to one. Notably, Federer would only make one more US Open final for the remainder of his career, in 2015.
Del Potro also became the first player to defeat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam. This feat was later matched by Novak Djokovic at the 2011 US Open.
3) Upsets Novak Djokovic in the opening round of Rio Olympics
Novak Djokovic fought long and hard to fulfill his Olympic dream in Paris this year. However, one of the toughest obstacles on his journey to Olympic gold was Juan Martin del Potro.
The two were scheduled to face off in the opening round of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Del Potro was returning to competition after a lengthy injury layoff, while Djokovic was seeking redemption following an unexpected early exit at Wimbledon.
In a surprising twist, Del Potro rediscovered the form that had earned him his first Grand Slam title in 2009. The Argentine dominated from the baseline, unleashing a barrage of forehand winners that disrupted Djokovic’s rhythm.
Del Potro eventually triumphed 7-6, 7-6, clinching the match with a net cord winner on match point. This victory marked his second consecutive Olympic win over Djokovic, following his victory in the bronze medal match at the 2012 London Olympics.
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Fahad Hamid
(624 Articles Published)