100+ injections, 8 surgeries: Former US Open champion Del Potro shares ‘nightmare’ before ‘farewell’ game against Novak Djokovic | Tennis News

Juan Martin Del Potro’s fall from a rapid ascent to the World No. 3 ranking in 2018 left his career with unfulfilled expectations on court and a “never-ending nightmare” off it.Blighted a spate of injuries and a series of surgeries, the Argentine tennis star retired from the sport in 2022. Del Potro’s greatest moment on the court remains the 2009 US Open triumph where he beat Rafael Nadal and five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the final on his march to the title as a 21-year-old.
Though there were a few more highlights in reaching the 2018 French Open final besides two Olympic medals, Del Potro’s on-field career was marred severe injuries. Two years since his retirement, the 36-year-old hopes to have one final serve on court as he takes on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in an exhibition game in Buenos Aires on December 1.
Speaking ahead of the game, Del Potro revealed his daily ordeals despite retirement, which even prevents him from simple tasks like climbing a staircase.
8 surgeries, 100+ injections
“When I played the last match against [Federico] Delbonis [in 2022], the next day I took a flight to Switzerland and had another knee operation. That was my fifth surgery,” he said in an Instagram video.
“From then on, I never made my surgeries public again, because in the press conference prior to my match with Federico I said that it was possibly my last match. There I found a little peace and ended something that constantly happened to me, which was: ‘Delpo, when are you playing again? When do I see you again at a tournament?’ I couldn’t take it any more because of the pain in my legs.
“I was there for about two months in a town near Basel. They operated on me, there were rehabilitations, but it didn’t work. After two-and-a-half months, they told me that there was another little thing left, that we had to operate again. Sixth operation.
“Then I left for the United States and I continued rehabilitating. Between surgeries I tried treatments, I must have had more than 100 injections in my leg, hip and back. This is how I have been since that day with Federico until today. I really don’t have any more hope of playing again because my body doesn’t allow it.”

Juan Martin del Potro once had the world on a string.
He’d just become the first man to beat Fedal in the same Grand Slam. He was a first-time champion at 20.
His tennis dreams long gone, he now wakes up in pain every day and is considering prosthesis surgery.
Man, how unfair. https://t.co/181MbMx6Lq pic.twitter.com/H8tYP61RkR
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) November 26, 2024
The “endless nightmare” haunted Del Potro since he underwent surgery on his knee after a fall at Queen’s in 2019. “When I had my first surgery, the doctor told me I’d be back playing in three months. I was on my way back in Stockholm, Basel, and Paris because the doctor said I was going to make it in time to play.
“After that first surgery until today, I’ve never been able to go up a set of stairs without pain. It hurts many times when I try to sleep, when I turn on my side, or when I wake up because I get these sharp pains. It’s like an endless nightmare that I’m trying daily to find solutions and alternatives for, but I can’t find them. It all started with that first surgery…every time I think about it, it stirs up so much bad emotion; it makes me really angry, very frustrated, but I can’t change it.”
His final match against Djokovic has been titled ‘The Last Challenge’.
“I want to arrive at that match in the best shape possible,” said Del Potro.
“It’s a match to say goode. Djokovic was very generous in accepting my invitation. I want to give him all the love possible. If at least for one, two or three hours I can be in peace and happy on a tennis court, it will be beautiful.”