Juan Martín del Potro, for the first time in the Open River

ByDavid Mitchell
Juan Martín del Potro, for the first time in the Open River

As planned by the organization of the event, Juan Martín del Potro made his appearance for the first time in the Open river through a press conference.

“River is a very special place for me. I played here the Olympic Games in 2016. I am very grateful that they have invited me and very happy to be here ”said who overcame Novak Djokovic in the first round tournament, continued with hard commitments against Joao Sousa (6-3, 1-6 and 6-3), Taro Daniel (6-7 (4), 6-1 and 6-2), Roberto Bautista (7-5 ​​and 7-6 (4)) to ensure two games by medal.

In the semifinals he faced nothing less than with Rafael Nadal, 5th of the world at that time and Olympic champion in Beijing 2008. In more than 3 hours of play, he was 5-7, 6-4 and 7-6 (5) for the Argentine. Already in the final, the greatest wear and a potential definition of five sets, made Andy Murray the favorite. And so it was: N ° 2 of the World and Champion in London 2012 won 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and 7-5 after more than 4 hours.

“The Olympic Games Week here in Rio was the happiest of my career. First round with Djokovic, semifinals with Rafa. The medal. We broke with that Brazil-Argentina thing. That football rivalry never happened with me. People in Brazil love me. Like Argentines with (Joao) Fonsecawhich is very dear to the Argentine people. The same with Guga (Kuerten)”, The Tandilense continued.

“If there is a South American star, you may look at us differently. We have fans like nobody. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile we are passionate and we have tennis tradition ”reflected on the boom Fonseca

As for 2025: “My life today is very different. I have time for me, to do some things in Tandil. I am returning a little to tennis, knowing other players, ”said the extop3. “After Djokovic’s farewell in December I felt that I was no longer a professional tennis player and started a new chapter. Before, I always had little hope. From that day I started a new path, ”he completed.

The future? Who knows? “I don’t see myself being a full -time coach at this time, because when we stop we don’t want to travel all the time. But if a proposal arises we can analyze it.”

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David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.