Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro to play exhibition match in Argentina

The match against Novak Djokovic will serve as a tribute to Juan Martin del Potro, who announced his retirement from tennis.

In an upcoming treat for tennis fans a few weeks before Christmas – December 1st to be precise, Juan Martin del Potro and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will come together for an exhibition match in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Titled ‘The Last Challenge,’ it will serve as a fitting farewell to the former World No. #3 from Argentina. He achieved the career-high ranking in August 2018.

Del Potro picked up 22 ATP tour-level titles, including the 2009 US Open and the Indian Wells Masters nine years later in 2018. The 2019 season was officially his last active year on the ATP Tour.

🇦🇷🇷🇸 Wow! Del Potro and Djokovic will play an exhibition – ‘The Last Challenge’ – in Argentina on December 1st! Will be a good send off for Delpo 🥹 pic.twitter.com/sNxvwJMYmk

— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) September 12, 2024

After picking up his maiden Masters title in Indian Wells, where he got the better of Roger Federer, he went on to make deep runs at various high-profile events – quarterfinals at Wimbledon and Cincinnati Masters, semifinals at the Miami Masters and Roland Garros, and finally the title round at Flushing Meadows.

The Argentine’s timeline of injuries began in 2018 when he hurt his kneecap and further aggravated the injury during the 2019 edition of the Queen’s Club Championships. Del Petro underwent four surgeries on his bad knee, the last one in March 2023. 

Also Read: Top five tennis players whose careers were ruined by injuries ft Dominic Thiem, Juan Martin Del Potro and more

The 2009 US Open champion also had to contend with wrist injuries during attempts to rejuvenate his career. The surgeries on his wrist took place between 2010 and 2014. 

Juan Martin del Potro’s crowning glory came when he unseated five-time US Open title holder Roger Federer in New York in 2009. The marathon five-setter snapped the Swiss maestro’s 41-win match streak in New York. By then, Federer had amassed five straight US Open trophies going back to 2004. Del Potro, who was just 20, scripted one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Open Era.

Also Read: Top 10 players with longest winning streak in men’s singles tennis

The man he will play in the exhibition, Novak Djokovic, has been grappling with injuries of his own in 2024. The ongoing season marks the first time since 2017 that the former World No. #1 has ended a campaign without a Grand Slam win. 

Djokovic’s sole final at Wimbledon 2024 resulted in a loss to Carlos Alcaraz. He, however, won the only big prize missing from his collection – an Olympic Gold — by defeating Alcaraz at Paris Olympics 2024 singles event. The Serbian is one title shy of picking up his 100th ATP Tour win. 

A tribute to Djokovic in the form of a mural popped up in Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorating his Olympic Gold in the Paris Games. 

Despite exiting the ATP top three this month, the Serb set a record by remaining there for a significant 756 weeks or 14 years and six months. Djokovic also boasts a winning head-to-head against every player in the current top 20.

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