Juan Martin del Potro broke down in tears as he played (possibly) his last professional match at the ATP 250 Argentina Open.

Juan Martin del Potro loses to fellow countryman Federico Delbonis in straight sets at Argentina Open. Even though he lost the match, he received the warmest of reception from the fans. 

Del Potro was playing his first match since March 2019 and took the break of serve in the opening set but Delbonis came back well winning the first set.

One set down and 3-5 in the second, Del Potro couldn’t control his emotions as he burst out in tears before he served what could be for the last time in his career. He lost the match 6-1 6-3 in an hour and 23 minute battle.

Del Potro’s mother, Patricia, was in the stands for the first time in his professional career to watch the former world No 3 play. As per the ATP website, Del Potro requested 80 tickets.

Other members of his family, former and current players were also among the spectators at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

However, it was after the match that the real emotions were on display. Post-match, going back to the player’s area, the Argentinian met his mother. The two hugged each other as he once again broke down.

In the post match interview :

“It’s difficult to explain how I felt on the court,” he said. “So many emotions.

“The atmosphere was crazy, the people were crazy, and I had one of my best ever matches in my career with the crowd.” [via sky sports]

He is currently ranked world No. 753 in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis and by the looks of things he’ll probably end his career on 753.

Del Potro’s Career

Del Potro’s biggest achievement is a Grand Slam title: the 2009 US Open

He defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and the five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the final. Del Potro became the first player to defeat both Federer and Nadal during the same major, and the only man outside the Big Three to win a major between the 2005 French Open and the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, a span of 30 tournaments.

Other career highlights include reaching the 2018 US Open final, winning the bronze medal in men’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics and the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning Indian Wells Masters in 2018, and being part of his country’s successful Davis Cup team in 2016, his career has also been hampered by a succession of wrist and knee injuries.

Del Potro achieved a top-10 ranking by the ATP for the first time on 6 October 2008. In January 2010, he reached a ranking of world No. 4, after which he withdrew from most of the season due to a right wrist injury. In 2016, del Potro led Argentina to its first-ever Davis Cup victory by defeating Croatia’s Martin Cilic in the final from two sets down. He reached his first major semifinal in four years by defeating Federer in the quarterfinals of the 2017 US Open.

In 2018, he won his first Masters 1000 title at the Indian Wells Masters, defeating the defending champion and world No. 1 Federer in the final. After reaching the semifinals of the 2018 French Open, he matched his career-high ranking of No. 4. In August 2018, he achieved the world No. 3 ranking for the first time. At the 2018 US Open , he reached his second Grand Slam final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. Del Potro did not play between June 2019 and February 2022 due to struggling with a knee injury, and has suggested he may retire in 2022 as a result.

Del Potro has also won 22 ATP Tour Titles, with his most recent win coming at the 2018 BNP Paribas Open. Moreover, he has also achieved a career-high ranking of world number three and is a two-time Olympic medalist. He won a singles bronze at the London Olympics in 2012 and a silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016