Juan Martin Del Potro has opened up about how his physical issues from playing tennis mean he now lives a limited and painful daily life.
Del Potro will officially say goodbye to tennis on December 1st during an exhibition against Novak Djokovic in Buenos Aires. That occasion, played in front of home fans, will give the 36-year-old the send-off he deserves.
Djokovic said he did not hesitate when accepting Del Potro's request to play at the exhibition event, calling the Argentinian a lovable guy who had done so much for tennis over the years with his blisteringly powerful style and friendly personality.
Del Potro was among a few players to win a Grand Slam during the era when Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer dominated the sport. He memorably defeated Federer in five sets to win the 2009 US Open.
Unfortunately, the hard-hitting Del Potro did not go on to have the success he almost certainly would have due to constant injury problems. The most severe of these is a knee injury that has plagued him for years.
Fans knew that injuries were why Del Potro's tennis career had been cut short, but no one knew how much it has impacted his quality of life until he discussed it in an Instagram video.
Del Potro remembered that a surgeon expected him to return to tennis after three months from his first knee injury. Instead, that surgery began the nightmare he has lived ever since.
"When I had my first surgery in June, the doctor told me I would play in three months. I even signed in 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."
The former US Open winner endured five more surgeries after that, but none fixed his knee. They only caused Del Potro to endure even more daily suffering.
"Nobody knew this, but the day after I played my last match against Delbonis [Buenos Aires 2022] I took a flight to Switzerland and I had my fifth knee surgery. I did all this process secretly and if it worked I would announce that I would come back."
"I spent two months in Switzerland, in a village close to Basel trying to rehabilitate and it didn’t work. After 2.5 months… I had my 6th surgery. I went back to the USA. More rehab, over 100 injections everywhere. Infiltrations… daily suffering. It’s been my life since that match against Federico."
Del Potro then revealed some heartbreaking details about how limited his life is now, leaving him in constant pain, meaning he cannot do many of the things he used to enjoy.
"My daily life isn’t what I would like it to be. I can’t play football, I can’t play Padel. It’s terrible. 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 time I have to fake it and put on a good face, but many times I feel terrible."
“Every day when I wake up I have to take 6 or 7 seven pils. Gastric protectors, anti-inflammatories, one for anxiety. Then the pills made me gain weight so they told me to stop eating some things."