Top five achievements of Juan Martin del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro won 22 singles titles in his career.

One of the very few tennis players to win a Grand Slam title in the peak Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal era was Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro. He retired from the sport in 2022 due to multiple injuries which paused his career many times. However, the 2009 US Open champion made attempts to return despite being injury-prone.

On his return, he reached the semi-finals at the French Open, the final of the US Open and won the Indian Wells Masters in 2018. However, Del Potro is still one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the sport’s history. Thus, on a similar note, let’s take a look at Juan Martin del Potro’s top five biggest achievements:

5. Becoming World No. 3

Despite numerous setbacks throughout his entire career, Juan Martin del Potro reached his career-best ranking of 3 in 2018. In that year, he won the Acapulco Open and Indian Wells Masters. He also reached the semi-finals in Miami, before coming up short against John Isner.

The former Argentine tennis star also reached the semi-finals at the French Open in 2018 for the first time since 2009, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. At that time, on August 13, he reached his new career-high ranking of World No. 3.

4. First ATP 1000 title: Indian Wells Masters 2018

Juan Martin del Potro won only one ATP 1000 title in his professional career, the Indian Wells Masters in 2018. Seeded sixth, he started his campaign with a win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Continuing his decent form, he handed Milos Raonic a 6-2, 6-3 defeat and secured a berth in the final. In the summit clash, he took down 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer to win his first and only ATP 1000 title.

3. Davis Cup title with Argentina in 2016

The Argentine Davis Cup team ended as the runners-up in the competition on four occasions, as their only title came in 2016. Argentina defeated Poland 3-2 in the first round of the 2016 Davis Cup. In the quarter-finals, they stunned Italy 3-1 to reach the semi-finals.

In the semi-final tie, Del Potro defeated Andy Murray in the first match. Leonardo Mayer went on to secure the 3-2 win for Argentina after defeating Daniel Evans in a closely-fought battle. In the final, Del Potro played three matches, including one in doubles. Interestingly, he won both singles matches and helped Argentina win their first Davis Cup title.

Also Read: Top five biggest rivalries of Roger Federer

2. Silver medal at 2016 Rio Olympics

Returning from an injury, Del Potro entered the main draw at the 2016 Olympics via protected rankings. In the first round, he defeated top seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

Continuing similar momentum, he stunned third seed Nadal in a three-set thriller in the semi-finals. However, he lost to Murray in the final in four sets and the Brit became the first male tennis player to defend his gold medal at the Olympics.

1. Winning 2009 US Open

Winning the 2009 US Open was unarguably, Del Potro’s biggest achievement of his professional career. The Argentine tennis was seeded sixth at the tournament and he enjoyed a magical campaign. In the quarter-finals, he defeated Marin Cilic in four sets.

However, he took down Spain’s Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals and stormed into the final, where he faced five-time defending champion, Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro played only two five-setters at Flushing Meadows between 2004 and 2007. However, Del Potro forced the match into five sets and handed Federer his first loss in six years in New York. He is also the last non-European tennis player to win a Grand Slam.

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