Marin Cilic gets emotional after Juan Martin del Potro’s retirement as there were ‘so many farewells this year’
Marin Cilic paid an emotional tribute to Juan Martin del Potro and lauded Novak Djokovic for celebrating the moment with the Argentine.
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Marin Cilic, Juan Martin del Potro (Images via The Tennis Gazette, X)
Juan Martin del Potro played his farewell match on December 1 in Buenos Aires where, more than two years ago, he played his final official match on the ATP Tour. In the exhibition event, The Last Challenge, del Potro clashed with Novak Djokovic for the one last time and defeated him with scores of 6-4, 7-5.
Former World No. 3 Marin Cilic, just like del Potro, suffered a knee injury and remained on the sidelines for months in 2023, playing just two matches in 2023. Currently ranked a World No. 184, Cilic, 36, got emotional as before del Potro, three players retired (Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and Dominic Thiem). Cilic paid an emotional tribute to del Potro and also lauded Djokovic for joining the Argentine in his last match.
Dear Juan Martin, So many farewells this year, and while they are bittersweet for us tennis enthusiasts, they are also a celebration of all that you guys have achieved. I’m truly happy that you had the farewell you deserve, at home, alongside @DjokerNole, who showed his own greatness by honoring and celebrating this moment with you.
Marin Cilic wrote on X
Check out his post here:
Dear Juan Martin,
— Marin Cilic (@cilic_marin) December 4, 2024
So many farewells this year, and while they are bittersweet for us tennis enthusiasts, they are also a celebration of all that you guys have achieved.
I’m truly happy that you had the farewell you deserve, at home, alongside @DjokerNole, who showed…
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his own greatness by honoring and celebrating this moment with you.
— Marin Cilic (@cilic_marin) December 4, 2024
It’s a testament to the admiration and respect you’ve earned from your peers and fans alike.
Congratulations on all your incredible accomplishments, for realizing your dreams, and for inspiring so many…
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…with your journey.
— Marin Cilic (@cilic_marin) December 4, 2024
While we can’t help but wonder what could have been if luck (and health) had been kinder to you, your legacy is secure as one of the greats.
Wishing you all the best in everything that follows—you truly deserve it.
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The 21-time singles winner has met del Potro 13 times but won just two matches (in the 2010 Australian Open and the 2011 Canadian Open). They last met in the quarterfinal of the 2018 French Open.
Juan Martin del Potro thanks Novak Djokovic for the match
Although Novak Djokovic made headlines for his angry rants against the crowd during the summer this season, praises have been pouring in from all corners for accepting Juan Martin del Potro‘s request to play him in his farewell match. The two had a dinner back in Miami and Djokovic instantly agreed to the ‘crazy idea’ despite a busy calendar.
Dear Nole, I don’t have enough words to thank you for everything you did for me since that day at the dinner in Miami, when you accepted this crazy idea of being part of my farewell in Argentina, despite your difficult season. From that moment until the day you left my country, you showed a generosity that I will never forget.
Juan Martin del Potro wrote on Instagram
Djokovic also suffered a knee injury this season which forced him to withdraw from the French Open but didn’t affect him much at the Paris Olympics where he won the gold medal. On the ATP, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has met del Potro 20 times and led 16-4 in their head-to-head contest, last clashing in the 2019 Rome Open.
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