Juan Martin Del Potro y Gabriela Sabatini, two of the three best Argentine tennis players in history returned to New York, where they lived their happiest days as professional tennis players. There, the man from Tandil wrote his most glorious chapter by completing the feat of beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to become champion of the US Open in 2009, but his history with the American Grand Slam is not reduced to that unforgettable success. He beat the Swiss again in 2017 and the following season he eliminated Rafa to meet Novak Djokovic in the grand final, who beat him in three tight sets.
However, at the end of 2018, at the Shanghai Masters 1000, a new injury of the many he had throughout his career marked the worst end to his career in the professional elite: it was the fracture of the right kneecap after a fall he suffered in the third round against Borna Coric. “It is a very difficult moment. “I feel very sad, it is a hard blow that leaves me emotionally weak,” he said at the time. He tried to return, but that damn knee didn’t allow it and he said goodbye to tennis in tears after a sad defeat against Federico Delbonis in his debut at the ATP in Buenos Aires in 2022.
It seems unfair to have to retire in that way, even more so when it comes to a player of Juan Martín’s caliber. That’s how he feels too. Perhaps that is why he has chosen to return to New York once again. He had already done it as a commentator for television, but now he agreed to dress up as a tennis player again and be part of the Stars of The Open, event organized to benefit the USTA Foundation, which offers educational and tennis programs to low-income communities: first he trained with Djokovicwith whom he has a great relationship, and later played alongside Sabatini, champion in 1990 when the Arthur Ashe stadium had not yet been inaugurated, a doubles match of legends against Andy Roddick y Caroline Wozniacki.
In many cases, tennis players who retire leave, at least for a while, the circuit tired of the hectic life of the tennis player: training, matches, trips, press conferences that the ATP forces them to attend, commercial commitments and many etcetera. that generate physical and mental exhaustion. The opposite happened to the Torre de Tandil. He did not make the decision to retire, but injuries forced him to do so and that made him want more tennis, beyond being the third Argentine with the most victories (439) behind Guillermo Vilas (951) and Sabatini herself (632). That’s what he went looking for at this exhibition, which for a few hours made him feel like a tennis player again.
After 4 p.m. (Argentine time), Del Potro went out with Djokovic to the Arthur Ashe and received a standing ovation from the American public that loves him so much. This is how the show began. “Was winning the gold medal your greatest achievement?” the Argentine asked the Serbian in the framework of a fun talk that was heard throughout the stadium. “My greatest success was beating Juan Martín Del Potro in the final of the 2018 US Open,” he replied sarcastically Absentwhich sparked laughter from everyone present. The dialogue continued to escalate and the Albiceleste star, double Olympic medalist, replied: “My greatest success was beating you in Rio,” he said in reference to his victory in the first round of the 2016 Olympic Games. With a great sense of humor, the best tennis player in history added: “And in London (NdR: he beat him in the bronze match in London 2012) . Delpo is my nemesis in the Olympic Games. He has been my murderer.” Then the laughter continued and they began to train in a relaxed way.
“Honestly, I was a little nervous at first. “It’s been a long time since I stepped on a court and played with people, but then I started to loosen up and Novak made it super easy for me,” the 2016 Davis Cup champion said to Daniel Orsanic, the captain of that conquest, for ESPN. It was just the beginning of an unforgettable day. “As Gaby said, this trip is special for being able to play together for the first time and do it at the US Open, where we both have incredible memories,” she added later. “The idea is to have fun and have a good time. For me, being here in Nueva York and playing alongside Juan Martín is the best thing that can happen to me,” added Sabatini.
He Stars of the Open It began at 8 p.m. with a mixed doubles match between four active tennis players: the world number one, Iga Swiatek, along with Sebastian Korda against the Italian duo of Jasmine Paolini and Matteo Berrettini. The largest tennis stadium in the world, with capacity for 23,771 spectators, was filling up, as no one wanted to miss what would come next: Novak Djokovic y John McEnroe ante Carlos Alcaraz and André Agassi. The show was assured. And so it was.
In a 10-point super tie-break, the victory went to Djokovic and McEnroe by 10 to 8, but the great image of that match was the one given by Alcaraz, who after a mistake by the umpire that he considered wrong launched a “you cannot be serious” emulating that phrase that an enraged McEnroe immortalized in the first round of Wimbledon in 1981. Alcaraz made the entire audience laugh with that shout that contrasts with his always calm attitude on the court. “I’m not used to playing these types of games. “It was a privilege for me to share the court with these legends,” said Carlitos once the event was over. matchwhich showed a wide repertoire of shots, a lot of show and laughter.
Then they went out onto the field. Del Potro and Sabatini, who beat Roddick and Wozniacki 11 to 9 and starred in other fun moments on the New York night. “Where are the Argentines?” asked Delpo when he was about to lead 6-3, which made the fans rise from their seats. Immediately after, the longest point of the night: an exchange between Del Potro and Wozniacki that left Sabatini and Roddick as mere spectators.
Results aside, tennis lovers enjoyed seeing racket glories return to one of the most important stages of this sport. And in Argentina, in particular, it was lived in a very special way.