Juan Martin del Potro says Rafael Nadal’s retirement will also mark an end to one era as the Argentine admits he is at least happy to see the Spaniard being in a position to have a farewell.
After announcing last year his plans to retire in 2024, Nadal’s farewell hasn’t gone as planned so far as the former world No. 1 was forced to miss the Australian Open and the opening three Masters of the year. But Nadal managed to return to action in Barcelona and Madrid, and if everything remains fine, he should be able to also compete at the Rome Masters, French Open and Paris Olympics.
Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, suffered a serious knee injury in 2019 June and for years he worked on making a comeback. But after it became clear that he wouldn’t be able to do so, he just returned for one final tournament in Buenos Aires in 2022 February, where he lost in his opening match.
With Roger Federer retired and Nadal set to soon enter the retirement waters, del Potro thinks one will chapter will forever be closed.
Rafael Nadal © Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Del Potro on Nadal’s retirment
“I think we have to start assimilating that an era of tennis is going to end. Roger is no longer here but his legacy was marked forever,” del Potro told Punto de Break.
“And now Rafa is giving himself the pleasure of retiring in his own way and under his conditions. And it is something which unfortunately I couldn’t do because of my health.
“The thing about Rafa is impressive. Watching him play and seeing that passion for competing and that energy he has is something unique and I don’t know if there will be something similar in the coming years.
“I hope I meet him now and. say hi to him and I will continue watching him on TV. I’m not watching much tennis, but if Rafa or Novak plays, of course I watch it.”
Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
En route to clinching the biggest title of his career at the 2009 US Open, del Potro defeated Nadal in the semifinal and Federer in the final.
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