Juan Martin del Potro: A Joyful Revival

His body flagging but spirit enduring, Juan Martin del Potro looked to his many fans for inspiration to dig deeper. And there were thousands to provide it on a night at the 2017 US Open that symbolised the tremendous battles that del Potro has fought – and won –throughout an interrupted, yet heroic career.

“Ole, Ole, Ole, Delpo, Delpo,” the fans sang relentlessly as del Potro, still suffering the effects of the flu that had felled him days previously, saved two match points with consecutive aces to defeat Dominic Thiem 1-6 2-6 6-1 7-6(1) 6-4 in the fourth round.

“We could even hear it on centre court,” said Roger Federer after completing his own fourth round victory against Philipp Kohlschreiber on Arthur Ashe Stadium. “That’s the first time I experienced that.”

Federer spoke with both wonder and a natural fondness for the Argentine and was even more gracious when del Potro bravely deployed his trademark forehand in a 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) 6-4 victory that delivered the Swiss’ only Grand Slam loss for the year.

“He served well, had some big shots when he needed to,” reasoned Federer. That was the part that he did so much better tonight, and that’s why he deserves to win.”

That warm assessment was notable for the fact that the US Open also marked the Slam in which del Potro had announced his arrival by stunning Federer in a five-set final to claim his lone Grand Slam title as a 20-year-old in 2009.

Showcasing talent, humility, joy and gratitude in equal measure, del Potro instantly become one of the most-loved figures in tennis as he captivated countless supporters with his rare ability and spirit.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Into <a href=”https://twitter.com/SH_RolexMasters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@SH_RolexMasters</a> semifinals, our new cover star <a href=”https://twitter.com/delpotrojuan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@delpotrojuan</a> has also secured his top 20 return <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/delpo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#delpo</a> <a href=”https://t.co/mKE8VDXncf”>pic.twitter.com/mKE8VDXncf</a></p>&mdash; AusTennisMag (@AusTennisMag) <a href=”https://twitter.com/AusTennisMag/status/919083125967171584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>October 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Even then, part of the appeal was that del Potro’s breakthrough had an ‘against-the-odds’ feel to it. The first man to defeat Nadal and Federer at a single Grand Slam, del Potro also disrupted the stranglehold the Big Four group of Nadal, Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray held between the 2005 French Open and 2013 US Open.

The ability to rise to the most momentous challenges would ultimately take on a different meaning, with del Potro’s physical setbacks well documented.  Soon after rising to world No.4 in January 2010, he suffered the first of several wrist injuries requiring surgery.

That right wrist healed, del Potro returned to the tour in 2011 but soon after fighting his way back into the world’s top five in 2013, he suffered a left wrist injury that would require three surgeries in a 15-month period.

Still, the popular champion had many supporters. “My family and friends help me a lot to never give up. And I think I’m doing well now,” he said. “The worst part of my life is totally in the past, and I’m living a good present and looking forward for a good future.”

Delivered during his breathtaking comeback year in 2016, it’s a candid yet typically understated assessment from the gently spoken ‘Delpo’. Ranked outside the top 1000 on his return to the tour in February, he surged back to the top 40 after a quarterfinal run at the US Open and his first title for 33 months in Stockholm.

The memorable season also included match wins over Stan Wawrinka, Djokovic and Nadal – and many stunning reminders of why del Potro is so beloved.

One of them was the 2016 Rio Olympics, when the Argentine shocked then-No.1 Djokovic in the first round and outclassed Nadal to reach the final, where he finished runner-up to Murray in a contest that extended more than four hours.

An even bigger high followed as del Potro secured Argentina’s first-ever Davis Cup title with a 6-7(4) 2-6 7-5 6-4 6-3 victory over Marin Cilic in the high-pressure final.

Late in 2017, the revival continues. As a semifinalist at the Shanghai Masters, del Potro pushed Federer to three sets despite an earlier injury scare. In Stockholm the next week, there was the successful defence of his 2016 title with a win over Grigor Dimitrov in the final.

RELATED: Del Potro gaining steam with latest triumph. 

Returned to the world’s top 20 and an outside a chance to become one of the top eight men to contest the ATP Finals in London, del Potro also had an important longer-term target.

“I don’t have too many points to defend next season. Could get close to the Top 10 guys,” del Potro smiled. “[It] could be a dream after all my problems with the wrist. To reach that ranking, that number again, would be fantastic for me.”

All around the world, fans were inevitably cheering their big-hearted hero. And as their numbers grow, so too does their ability to help the spirited del Potro rise even higher.

This feature story appears in the current issue of Australian Tennis Magazine.