Juan Martín del Potro

2.1. Childhood and Upbringing

Juan Martín del Potro was born on September 23, 1988, in Tandil, Argentina. His father, Daniel del Potro (1957-2021), was a veterinarian and a former semi-professional rugby union player in Argentina. His mother, Patricia Lucas, is a teacher. He has a younger sister named Julieta. Tragically, he also had an elder sister who passed away in a car accident at the age of eight. Del Potro is a Roman Catholic.

Growing up, del Potro was fluent in Spanish and also learned to speak English and some Italian. Beyond tennis, he had a strong passion for association football, supporting the Boca Juniors team in Argentina and Juventus in Italy. He often dedicated time to both sports during his youth. Argentine-Italian international footballer Mauro Camoranesi, who grew up in the same town, remained a close friend of del Potro.

2.2. Early Career and Junior Years

Del Potro began playing tennis at the age of seven under the guidance of coach Marcelo Gómez, who also trained other Tandil-born players like Juan Mónaco, Mariano Zabaleta, and Máximo González. His talent was discovered by Italian ex-tennis professional Ugo Colombini, who became his agent and a close friend, accompanying him through the initial stages of his young career. When asked about his ambitions in tennis in 2007, del Potro stated, "I dream of winning a Grand Slam and the Davis Cup." He would later achieve both of these goals.

As a junior, del Potro won the Orange Bowl 14s title in 2002, defeating Marin Čilić en route to a victory over Pavel Tchekov in the final. In 2003, at the age of 14, he received wildcards to three ITF Circuit events in Argentina, losing in the first round of each. He reached a career-high junior world ranking of No. 3 in January 2005.

In May 2004, at 15, del Potro secured his first senior match win at an ITF Circuit event in Buenos Aires, defeating Matias Niemiz before losing in the second round. He finished 2004 with a world ranking of No. 1077, a significant jump from No. 1441 in August. He also reached the finals of the Argentina Cup and Campionati Internazionali D'Italia Junior tournaments. In 2005, he reached his first ITF Junior Circuit final at the "Copa del Cafe (Coffee Bowl)" in Costa Rica, losing to Robin Haase in a match that had to be completed indoors due to rain, a first in the tournament's 44-year history.

At 16, del Potro reached his first senior singles final at the Futures tournament in Berimbau Naucalpan, Mexico, where he lost to Darko Mađarovski. He then won consecutive titles at two Future ITF Circuit events in Santiago, Chile, including the 26th International Junior tournament. In the first, he beat Jorge Aguilar, and in the second, he defeated Thiago Alves without dropping a set. He won his third title in Argentina by defeating Damián Patriarca in Buenos Aires.

Del Potro turned professional in June 2005. In his first professional tournament, the Lines Trophy Challenger in Reggio Emilia, he reached the semifinals. He then reached the final of the Credicard Citi MasterCard Tennis Cup in Campos do Jordão, Brazil, losing to André Sá. After turning 17, he won the Montevideo Challenger, defeating Boris Pašanski. That same year, he attempted to qualify for his first major, the US Open, but lost in the first round of qualifying. He finished 2005 ranked No. 157, having jumped over 900 positions, largely due to his three Futures titles. He was the youngest player to finish the year in the top 200.

3.1. Early Professional Years (2004-2008)

In February 2006, del Potro played his first ATP Tour event in Viña del Mar, defeating Albert Portas before losing to Fernando González. He then won the Copa Club Campestre de Aguascalientes Challenger, beating Sergio Roitman in the final. At 17, del Potro qualified for the main draw of his first major at the 2006 French Open, where he lost in the opening round to former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. He reached the quarterfinals of the ATP event in Umag, Croatia, and won the Open Castilla y León Challenger in Segovia, defeating top seed Fernando Verdasco and Benjamin Becker. He qualified for his first US Open main draw but lost in the first round to Alejandro Falla. He also qualified for his first ATP Masters Series tournament, the Madrid Open, where he lost in the first round. Thanks to a wildcard from Roger Federer, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2006 Swiss Indoors in Basel. Del Potro finished 2006 as the youngest player in the top 100, at 18 years and 2 months old.

In 2007, del Potro reached his first ATP semifinal in Adelaide, losing to Chris Guccione. At the Australian Open, he retired in the fifth set against eventual finalist Fernando González due to injury. In February, he played for Argentina in the Davis Cup against Austria, winning the deciding match against Jürgen Melzer to secure Argentina's place in the quarterfinals. He reached the fourth round of the Miami Open, defeating three top-50 players before falling to Rafael Nadal. He lost to Nadal again in the first round of the French Open. On grass, he reached the second round at Queen's Club (losing to Nadal) and the quarterfinals in Nottingham. At his inaugural Wimbledon Championships, he lost to Roger Federer in the second round. In July, he won his first doubles title at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships with Travis Parrott, a victory he considered very special. He reached the third round of the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, losing to Carlos Moyá and Novak Djokovic respectively. He also reached the third round of the Madrid Masters. Del Potro finished 2007 as the youngest player in the top 50, at 19 years and 2 months.

The first half of del Potro's 2008 season was affected by injuries and a coaching change, causing his ranking to drop to No. 81 in April. He retired from matches at the Australian Open and Rome Masters due to injuries. At the Rome Masters, he had a controversial exchange with Andy Murray before retiring. He was eliminated in the second round of the French Open and Wimbledon. However, a successful summer followed after he decided to stay in Europe to test his fitness on clay. In July, del Potro won his first career ATP Tour title at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, defeating Richard Gasquet. A week later, he claimed his second title at the Austrian Open in Kitzbühel, beating Jürgen Melzer. He then won his third consecutive title at the Los Angeles Open, defeating Andy Roddick. A fourth consecutive title followed at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C., where he beat Viktor Troicki, becoming the first player in ATP history to win his first four career titles in consecutive tournaments. This impressive run was credited to his coach, Franco Davín. At the 2008 US Open, he reached the quarterfinals, defeating Kei Nishikori before losing to Andy Murray in a nearly four-hour match, ending a 23-match winning streak, the second-longest in 2008. In September, he played his first home-based Davis Cup tie against Russia, winning two singles matches against Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev to send Argentina to the final. He reached the final of the Japan Open, losing to Tomáš Berdych. He lost to Roger Federer in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals and to David Nalbandian in the Swiss Indoors semifinals and Paris Masters second round. He qualified for the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup but exited in the round-robin stage. In the Davis Cup final against Spain, he lost to Feliciano López and retired from his second match due to a thigh injury. Despite the setback, he finished 2008 as the youngest player in the top 10, top-ranked Argentine, and highest-ranked South American.

3.2. Breakthrough and Grand Slam Glory (2009)

Del Potro started his 2009 season by winning the Auckland Open, his fifth career title, defeating Sam Querrey in the final. Seeded eighth at the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Roger Federer. At Indian Wells, he lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, but avenged that loss the following week at the Miami Open, defeating Nadal in the quarterfinals for his first victory over the Spaniard in five meetings. Despite a semifinal loss to Andy Murray, del Potro reached a career-high world ranking of No. 5.

In the clay-court season, he lost early at the Monte Carlo Masters and in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters to Novak Djokovic. At the Madrid Masters, he defeated Murray for the first time in the quarterfinals but lost to Federer in the semifinals. At the French Open, as the fifth seed, del Potro reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, defeating Michaël Llodra, Viktor Troicki, Igor Andreev, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Tommy Robredo. He lost a close five-set semifinal to eventual champion Federer, who praised del Potro's strength and potential. Prior to this match, del Potro had never taken a set from Federer in their five previous encounters.

At the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, he was upset by unseeded Lleyton Hewitt in the second round. In the Davis Cup quarterfinal against the Czech Republic, del Potro won both his singles matches, but Argentina lost the tie. A few weeks later, he successfully defended his title at the Washington Open, defeating Andy Roddick in the final and becoming the first player since Andre Agassi to win back-to-back Washington titles. At the Montreal Masters 1000, he beat world No. 2 Nadal for his second consecutive win over him, and then defeated Roddick, saving a match point, to reach his first Masters 1000 final, where he lost to Murray. He withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters due to fatigue.

Seeded sixth at the US Open, del Potro advanced to the semifinals by defeating Juan Mónaco, Jürgen Melzer, Daniel Köllerer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Marin Čilić (coming back from a set and a break down). His semifinal opponent was world No. 3 and reigning Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal, whom he crushed in straight sets to reach his first Grand Slam final. This marked his third consecutive victory over Nadal and made him the first Argentine male to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Mariano Puerta in 2005. In the final, del Potro rallied from a set and a break down to defeat world No. 1 and five-time defending champion Roger Federer in five sets. This was his first victory over Federer after six previous defeats, and Federer's first loss at the US Open since 2003. Del Potro became the first Argentine male to win the US Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977. At 6.5 ft ^{(1.98 m)}, he became the tallest ever Grand Slam champion, a record he now shares with Marin Čilić (2014 US Open) and Daniil Medvedev (2021 US Open). He was also the first player to defeat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam tournament (a feat later matched by Novak Djokovic at the 2011 US Open). During the post-match ceremony, a request by del Potro to address his fans in Spanish was initially declined by host Dick Enberg, leading to public disappointment with Enberg and CBS. Upon his return to his hometown of Tandil, del Potro was greeted by an estimated 40,000 people.

In his first match after the US Open, del Potro was upset by world No. 189 Édouard Roger-Vasselin at the Japan Open. He then retired from his second round match at the Shanghai Masters against Melzer due to fatigue, and again in the Paris Masters quarterfinals against Radek Štěpánek due to an abdominal injury. At the ATP World Tour Finals in November, he advanced from the round-robin stage after defeating Federer and Fernando Verdasco, despite losing to Andy Murray. He then defeated Robin Söderling in the semifinals but lost to Nikolay Davydenko in the final. Del Potro finished 2009 as the youngest player in the top 10, top-ranked Argentine, and highest-ranked South American for the second consecutive year.

3.3. Navigating Injuries and Hiatuses (2010-2015)

Del Potro started his 2010 season at the AAMI Kooyong Classic in Melbourne. On January 11, he reached a career-high world No. 4. However, a persistent right wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the Kooyong Classic and subsequently miss several tournaments, including Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami. On May 4, del Potro underwent surgery to address the injury. He withdrew from the US Open to prioritize his recovery. After a nine-month break, he returned at the Thailand Open in September, losing in the first round to Olivier Rochus. He also lost in the opening round of the Japan Open to Feliciano López. His ranking plummeted to No. 258 by the end of the year.

Del Potro began his 2011 season as a wildcard entry at the Sydney International, losing in the second round. At the 2011 Australian Open, he was defeated in the second round by Marcos Baghdatis, causing his ranking to drop further to No. 485. However, he began a strong comeback, reaching the semifinals of the San Jose Open and the U.S. National Indoor Championships. In February, he won the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, defeating Janko Tipsarević in the final, marking his first ATP title since the 2009 US Open. He continued his resurgence by reaching the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters, losing to Rafael Nadal. At the Miami Masters, he defeated world No. 4 Robin Söderling before losing to Mardy Fish.

In May, del Potro won the Estoril Open, defeating top-seeded Robin Söderling and Fernando Verdasco in the final. He withdrew from the Madrid Open and Italian Open due to an 8-millimeter tear in his left rectus abdominis but played the French Open, losing in the third round to Novak Djokovic. He reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time, losing to Rafael Nadal in a match described as a "battle of walking wounded." His ranking returned to No. 19. In July, he lost in the quarterfinals of the Los Angeles Open. At the Canada Masters, he lost to Marin Čilić, and at the Cincinnati Masters, he lost to Roger Federer. At the 2011 US Open, he lost in the third round to Gilles Simon.

After the US Open, del Potro played in the Davis Cup semifinal against Serbia, winning both his singles rubbers against Janko Tipsarević and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, helping Argentina reach the final. In October, he lost in the second round of the Stockholm Open and reached the final in Vienna, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He also reached the semifinals of the Valencia Open 500 but withdrew from the Paris Masters due to a shoulder injury, missing out on the ATP Finals. In the Davis Cup final in Seville, he lost a five-hour match to David Ferrer and then to Rafael Nadal, resulting in Argentina's 3-1 loss to Spain. Despite the final defeat, del Potro finished 2011 ranked world No. 11 and was named 2011 ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

Del Potro started 2012 at the Sydney International, reaching the quarterfinals. At the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals for the second time, losing to Roger Federer. In February, he reached his first ATP 500 final since returning from injury at the Rotterdam Open, losing to Federer. He then won his tenth ATP title at the Open 13 in Marseille, defeating Michaël Llodra in the final. He lost to Federer again in the Dubai semifinals and Indian Wells quarterfinals. At the Miami Open, he lost to David Ferrer in the fourth round.

His clay-court season began with the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Croatia, where he won both his singles matches. He successfully defended his title at the Estoril Open, beating Richard Gasquet in the final. At the Madrid Masters, he reached the semifinals, losing to Tomáš Berdych. At the French Open, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Roger Federer in five sets after being two sets up. At Wimbledon, he lost to David Ferrer in the fourth round.

At the London 2012 Olympic Games, held at the All England Club, del Potro faced Federer in a semifinal that became the longest "best of three sets" tennis match in history, lasting 4 hours and 26 minutes. He lost 17-19 in the third set. Two days later, he defeated Novak Djokovic in the bronze-medal match, marking his first full victory over Djokovic. At the US Open, he ended Andy Roddick's illustrious career by winning their fourth-round match before losing to Djokovic in the quarterfinals. In October, del Potro won the Erste Bank Open in Vienna and then beat Roger Federer in a third-set tie-break to win the Swiss Indoors title in Basel. He finished the year ranked world No. 7, with a 65-17 win-loss record and four titles.

Del Potro began 2013 at the Australian Open, where he was upset in the third round by Jérémy Chardy. The next month, he won the Rotterdam Open, defeating Julien Benneteau in the final. At Dubai, he lost in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic. In March at Indian Wells, del Potro defeated Andy Murray and upset world No. 1 Djokovic (ending his 22-match winning streak) to reach his first Masters 1000 final, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. He withdrew from most of the clay-court season and the French Open due to a viral infection.

On grass, he played at the Queen's Club Championships, losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals. At Wimbledon, del Potro reached his first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2009 US Open, defeating David Ferrer despite aggravating a leg injury early in the match. He lost to Novak Djokovic in a five-set match lasting 4 hours and 44 minutes, which was, at the time, the longest semifinal in Wimbledon men's singles history. Del Potro won the Washington Open for his third title at the event and second of the year, defeating John Isner in the final. He reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters, again losing to Isner. At the US Open, he was upset by Lleyton Hewitt in the second round.

At the Japan Open, del Potro won his third title of the year, defeating Milos Raonic in the final. In October, he reached the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, defeating Rafael Nadal (his first win over Nadal since the 2009 US Open semifinals) before losing to defending champion Djokovic in a third-set tiebreak. He then beat Roger Federer in the final of the Swiss Indoors for his fourth title of the year. However, he lost to Federer in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters and in a round-robin clash at the ATP World Tour Finals. He finished 2013 with a 51-16 record, winning four titles and over 4.29 M USD in prize money. He was named Argentina's Sportsman of the Year.

Del Potro began his 2014 season by winning the Sydney International, his fifth title as a top seed, defeating Bernard Tomic in the final. He declined to play for Argentina in the Davis Cup, citing issues with the press and the team, and a desire to prioritize his personal career. At the Australian Open, he lost in the second round to Roberto Bautista Agut, despite leading two sets to one. After the Australian Open, del Potro required treatment for his left wrist, which had been bothering him since 2012. In February, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Rotterdam Open, losing to Ernests Gulbis. At the 2014 Dubai Tennis Championships, he retired against Somdev Devvarman due to his wrist injury, stating, "It was really tough to play today. I tried everything. I cannot be the player I would like to be." This injury forced his withdrawal from Indian Wells and Miami, causing his ranking to drop to world No. 8. In March 2014, del Potro underwent surgery on his left wrist, missing the remainder of the 2014 season.

He returned in 2015 at the Sydney International, his first tournament since February 2014, winning his opening match against Sergiy Stakhovsky and defeating top seed Fabio Fognini before losing in the quarterfinals. He then withdrew from the 2015 Australian Open due to his wrist injury and had another surgery on his left wrist in January 2015. In late March, he played at the Miami Open with a protected ranking, losing his first-round match to Vasek Pospisil. This would be his last match of the year, as he underwent a third wrist surgery in June 2015.

3.4. The Resilient Comeback (2016)

Del Potro made his return to professional tennis at the Delray Beach Open in mid-February 2016, his first tournament since his third wrist surgery. He defeated Denis Kudla and John-Patrick Smith in straight sets, and Jérémy Chardy in the quarterfinals, reaching his first semifinal since 2014, where he lost to eventual champion Sam Querrey. At Indian Wells, he lost to Tomáš Berdych in the second round. At the Miami Open, he was set to play Roger Federer, but Federer withdrew due to a stomach virus, and del Potro lost to lucky loser Horacio Zeballos.

He then competed in his first clay-court tournament since 2013 at the BMW Open in Munich, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber. At the Madrid Open, he achieved a significant victory over 14th seed Dominic Thiem but lost his next match to Jack Sock. He skipped the French Open to prepare for the grass season. At the Stuttgart Open, his first grass tournament since 2013, he reached the semifinals, losing to Kohlschreiber. At Wimbledon, he defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets but lost to 32nd seed Lucas Pouille in the third round.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, del Potro, ranked No. 145, delivered a stunning performance. He defeated top seed and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round in two tiebreaks, a significant win given his ranking and recent injury comeback. He then defeated João Sousa, Taro Daniel, and Roberto Bautista Agut to guarantee a medal match. In the semifinals, he defeated 2008 gold medalist and 2016 doubles gold medalist Rafael Nadal in three tight sets to reach the gold medal match. He faced the reigning Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray, in a grueling final lasting over 4 hours, ultimately losing in four sets to claim the silver medal. Del Potro expressed satisfaction, stating, "I already won silver, that's good enough for me."

At the US Open, del Potro received a wildcard due to his low ranking. He reached the quarterfinals, defeating countryman Diego Schwartzman, 19th seed Steve Johnson, 11th seed David Ferrer, and eighth seed Dominic Thiem (who retired during the second set). He then lost to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka in four sets.

In the Davis Cup semifinal against Great Britain in Glasgow, del Potro defeated Andy Murray in a thrilling five-set match lasting 5 hours and 7 minutes, avenging his Olympic final loss and contributing to Argentina's progression to the final. He received a wildcard for the Shanghai Masters but lost in the first round to 11th seed David Goffin. He then won the Stockholm Open, his first title since his return from injury, defeating Jack Sock in the final. At the Swiss Indoors, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Kei Nishikori.

In the 2016 Davis Cup final against Croatia, del Potro played a pivotal role. He won his first singles match against Ivo Karlović. After losing the doubles match with Leonardo Mayer, Argentina was down 2-1. Del Potro then faced Marin Čilić in a reverse singles match and came back from two sets down for the first time in his career to win in five sets. This comeback leveled the score at 2-2, paving the way for Federico Delbonis to secure Argentina's first-ever Davis Cup title by defeating Ivo Karlović. For the second time in his career, after 2011, del Potro was named ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

3.5. Peak Performance and New Challenges (2017-2018)

Del Potro skipped the 2017 Australian Open and made his season debut at the Delray Beach Open, reaching the semifinals where he lost to top seed Milos Raonic. At the Mexican Open, he defeated Frances Tiafoe, who idolized him, before losing to Novak Djokovic in three sets. At the Indian Wells Masters, he lost to Djokovic again in the third round. At the Miami Open, he lost to Roger Federer in straight sets.

Del Potro began his clay-court season at the Estoril Open but withdrew after his first-round win due to the death of his grandfather. He then reached the quarterfinals of the Italian Open, a Masters 1000 event, defeating 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov and seventh seed Kei Nishikori for his first top-10 win of 2017, before losing to Novak Djokovic. At the Lyon Open, he lost in the second round. Despite a back injury, he decided to play the French Open after a five-year absence, entering as the 29th seed. He reached the third round, where he lost to top seed Andy Murray.

After a second-round exit at Wimbledon against Ernests Gulbis, del Potro began his North American hardcourt season at the Washington Open, losing to Kei Nishikori and ending his 15-match winning streak at the event. He then lost early at the Canadian Open and reached the third round of the Cincinnati Masters, losing to eventual champion Grigor Dimitrov.

At the US Open, del Potro defeated Henri Laaksonen, Adrián Menéndez-Maceiras, and Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets. In the fourth round against Dominic Thiem, he came back from two sets down to win in five sets, saving two match points with aces in the fourth set, and later admitted he considered retiring from the match. This performance earned him the nickname "Juan Martin del Thortro" from Roger Federer, referring to Thor's hammer. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Roger Federer in four tight sets, his second US Open victory over the Swiss. He reached his first major semifinal since Wimbledon 2013, but his run ended with a four-set loss to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.

Del Potro continued his strong form in the Asian hardcourt swing. He lost in the second round of the China Open to Grigor Dimitrov. At the Shanghai Masters, he reached the semifinals, notably upsetting Alexander Zverev (his second triumph over a top-5 opponent in 2017) before losing to Roger Federer. He then defended his Stockholm Open title, defeating Grigor Dimitrov in the final for his 20th ATP career title. He reached the final of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, again losing to Federer in three sets. At the Paris Masters, he reached the quarterfinals, one win away from qualifying for the ATP Finals, but lost to John Isner. He finished 2017 ranked No. 11.

Del Potro started 2018 at the ASB Classic in New Zealand, reaching the final and returning to the top 10 for the first time since August 2014, but lost to Roberto Bautista Agut. At the Australian Open, he lost in the third round to Tomáš Berdych. At the Delray Beach Open, he lost in the second round to eventual champion Frances Tiafoe. He then won the Acapulco Open, defeating Kevin Anderson in the final for his 21st title and biggest title since 2013.

His winning streak continued at the Indian Wells Open, where he won his first Masters 1000 title. He defeated Alex De Minaur, David Ferrer, Leonardo Mayer, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Milos Raonic, and in the final, the defending champion and world No. 1 Roger Federer. Del Potro prevailed in three sets, saving three championship points while Federer was serving for the match. This was his biggest achievement on the ATP Tour since the 2009 US Open. His 15-match win streak ended in the Miami Open semifinals, where he lost to eventual champion John Isner.

Del Potro returned for the clay-court season in May. At the Madrid Open, he lost in the third round to qualifier Dušan Lajović. At the Rome Masters, he retired against David Goffin due to a groin injury. Despite injury concerns, he entered the French Open as the fifth seed. He reached the semifinals, defeating John Isner and Marin Čilić in intense matches, marking his first French Open semifinal since 2009. He then lost to ten-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets. His strong performance returned him to his career-best ranking of world No. 4.

At Wimbledon, del Potro defeated Peter Gojowczyk, Feliciano López, and Benoît Paire, before a long four-set win over Gilles Simon spread over two days. He then lost to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set quarterfinal. Del Potro then reached the final of the Los Cabos Open, losing to Fabio Fognini. On August 13, he achieved a new career-high ranking of world No. 3. At the Cincinnati Masters, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to David Goffin.

Entering the US Open seeded third, del Potro reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, defeating Donald Young, Denis Kudla, Fernando Verdasco, and 20th seed Borna Ćorić. He then defeated 11th seed John Isner in four sets to reach his second consecutive US Open semifinal. There, he faced top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal in a rematch of the previous year's semifinal. Nadal retired from the match due to a knee injury after del Potro took the first two sets, sending del Potro to his second Grand Slam final, nine years after his 2009 US Open triumph. In the final, he was defeated by two-time champion Novak Djokovic in three straight sets.

In October, del Potro competed at the China Open as the top seed, reaching the final before losing to unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili. At the Shanghai Masters, he retired in the third round against Borna Ćorić due to a knee injury after a heavy fall. This injury forced him to withdraw from the rest of the season, including the ATP Finals, for which he had qualified for the first time since 2013. Despite the injury, 2018 was a successful season, marked by his first Masters 1000 title, a Grand Slam final appearance, and a career-high ranking of World No. 3. He finished the year with a 47-13 win-loss record and a year-end ranking of No. 5.

3.6. Battling Persistent Injuries (2019-2021)

Del Potro's knee injury from 2018 persisted into the 2019 season, forcing him to withdraw from the Australian Open. He made his comeback at the Delray Beach Open in February, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Mackenzie McDonald. He then chose not to defend his titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells, withdrawing from both tournaments. At the Madrid Open, he lost his first match to Laslo Djere. He then played in Rome, securing wins against David Goffin and Casper Ruud, but lost a three-hour quarterfinal to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, failing to convert two match points in the second set tiebreak.

At the 2019 French Open, del Potro was seeded eighth. After wins against Nicolás Jarry, Yoshihito Nishioka, and Jordan Thompson, he lost in the fourth round to tenth-seeded Karen Khachanov. In his first grass-court tournament of the season at Queen's Club, del Potro suffered another career-threatening injury when he fractured his kneecap in his first-round match against Denis Shapovalov. This injury ended his season, and his world ranking fell outside the top 100.

Del Potro did not play any professional tennis from June 2019 until February 2022. He underwent four right knee surgeries: in June 2019, January 2020, August 2020, and March 2021. The persistent pain not only prevented him from playing but also affected his daily life. He withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. In September 2021, during a visit to the US Open, del Potro reported that his knee was improving, and he had resumed training on court, hoping to return to the tour within a couple of months. He finished 2020 ranked No. 157 and 2021 ranked No. 756.

3.7. Return Attempts and Tentative Retirement (2022-2024)

On January 31, 2022, it was announced that del Potro would make his return to professional tennis at the Argentina Open, accepting a wildcard. He also accepted a wildcard to play the Rio Open.

However, on February 5, del Potro stated in a press conference that his return was "maybe more of a farewell than a comeback," citing ongoing knee pain as the reason for his likely retirement after the Argentina Open. He lost in the first round of the Argentina Open to countryman Federico Delbonis by a score of 1-6, 3-6. In the post-match interview, he became emotional and hinted at retirement, saying, "If today is my last match, I am satisfied." He subsequently withdrew from the 2022 Rio Open on February 11. Del Potro did not play any further matches, and he dropped out of the singles rankings on June 20, 2022, and the doubles rankings on May 9, 2022.

In March 2023, del Potro stated that he would begin training for a potential return at the 2023 US Open, calling it the "most special tournament for me." However, in August, he announced that he would not be able to compete due to his physical condition.

Del Potro officially retired from professional tennis after participating in an exhibition match titled 'The Last Challenge' against Novak Djokovic in Buenos Aires on December 1, 2024. In front of 15,000 spectators, he won the match in straight sets.

4.1. Forehand and Backhand

Del Potro's forehand is widely regarded as one of his main strengths and one of the most powerful in the sport, capable of frequently generating speeds exceeding 99 mph ^{(160 km/h)}. It is often considered among the top three best forehands on tour by fellow players and analysts, alongside those of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He uses this powerful shot to push his opponents deep into or off the court.

Originally, del Potro possessed a very consistent and powerful two-handed backhand. However, recurring wrist injuries and subsequent surgeries significantly impacted this shot, making it a relative weakness in his game. Since his return in 2016, del Potro made tactical adjustments to protect his wrist. He substantially reduced the pace of his two-handed backhand and began to frequently use a one-handed slice. While he admitted that relying on slices was "not my game," the shot proved effective in moving opponents out of position and slowing down rallies, allowing him to set up powerful offensive shots with his forehand.

4.2. Serve and Other Techniques

Del Potro's serve is highly effective, known for its power and accuracy. He could consistently hit serves averaging 124 mph ^{(200 km/h)} and reaching a maximum speed of 147 mph ^{(236 km/h)} from his 6.5 ft ^{(1.98 m)} height. This strong serve, combined with his ability to handle high topspin returns, made him a formidable opponent.

In addition to his forehand and serve, del Potro incorporated other tactical shots into his game, particularly after his injuries. He began to use the drop shot and lob more actively, adding variety and strategic depth to his play, especially to compensate for the limitations on his backhand.

4.3. Adaptations Due to Injury

Recurring injuries, particularly to his wrists and knees, significantly influenced del Potro's playing style and forced him to make strategic adjustments. The most notable change was the modification of his two-handed backhand to reduce stress on his injured wrist, leading to a greater reliance on the one-handed slice. To compensate for this newfound vulnerability on his backhand wing, del Potro improved the power and accuracy of his other shots, especially his serve. In 2018, he further evolved his game by actively using more tactical shots like drop shots and lobs, demonstrating his adaptability and determination to remain competitive despite physical limitations.

6.1. vs. Roger Federer

Del Potro holds a 7-18 win-loss record against Roger Federer. In finals, their record is 4-2 in del Potro's favor. Del Potro's notable victories include the 2009 US Open final, the 2012 and 2013 Swiss Indoors finals, and the 2018 Indian Wells final. Federer's wins in finals include the 2012 Rotterdam Open and the 2017 Basel Open. Their matches have often been epic encounters, such as Federer's five-set victory in the 2009 French Open semifinals and the longest best-of-three-set match in history at the 2012 Olympic semifinal, which Federer won 19-17 in the deciding set. Del Potro notably prevailed against Federer in the 2017 US Open quarterfinals in four sets.

6.2. vs. Novak Djokovic

Del Potro has a 4-16 win-loss record against Novak Djokovic. Djokovic won their first four meetings. Del Potro's first victory came at the 2011 Davis Cup, where Djokovic retired after dropping the first set. His first full victory over Djokovic was in their bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which del Potro won in straight sets. In 2013, Djokovic won an epic five-setter in the 2013 Wimbledon Championships semifinals and a three-setter in the 2013 Shanghai Masters final. However, del Potro defeated Djokovic en route to his second Masters 1000 final at the 2013 Indian Wells Masters. Del Potro upset Djokovic in the first round at the 2016 Rio Olympics on his way to the silver medal. Djokovic defeated del Potro in three close sets in the final of the 2018 US Open, which was del Potro's first Grand Slam final since his 2009 US Open triumph. Three of del Potro's four victories against Djokovic have come in national representation tournaments.

6.3. vs. Rafael Nadal

Del Potro has a 6-11 win-loss record against Rafael Nadal. He famously defeated Nadal in the semifinals en route to his 2009 US Open title, becoming the first player to beat both Roger Federer and Nadal in the same Grand Slam tournament. However, Nadal won both their Indian Wells Masters encounters, in the 2011 semifinal and the 2013 final. Nadal also secured a victory against del Potro in the fourth and final rubber of the 2011 Davis Cup final. Del Potro gained the upper hand at the 2013 Shanghai Masters, defeating Nadal to reach the final. Del Potro defeated Nadal in a third-set tiebreak in the semifinal of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Nadal ended del Potro's 2017 US Open run, defeating him in a four-set semifinal. In the quarterfinals of 2018 Wimbledon, Nadal came from two sets to one down to defeat del Potro in an epic five-set match. In their last meeting, del Potro advanced to the final of the 2018 US Open when Nadal retired while trailing by two sets to love.

6.4. vs. Andy Murray

Del Potro has a 3-7 win-loss record against Andy Murray. They played two finals: the first was at the 2009 Rogers Cup, which Murray won. However, when del Potro beat Murray in the quarterfinals of the 2013 BNP Paribas Open, he achieved the distinction of having defeated all members of the Big Four in 2013. In their second final, del Potro lost to Murray at the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, during Argentina's Davis Cup semi-final tie against Great Britain, del Potro avenged his Olympic loss by beating Andy Murray in a five-set thriller that, for each man, was the longest match of his career.

7.1. Family and Relationships

Juan Martín del Potro's family consists of his parents, Daniel del Potro and Patricia Lucas, and his younger sister, Julieta. He also had an elder sister who passed away at a young age.

Regarding romantic relationships, del Potro dated singer Jimena Barón from April 2017 until February 2018. He then dated model Sofia Jimenez from December 2018 until their breakup in May 2020.

7.2. Financial Issues and Other Events

In 2022, it was revealed that Daniel del Potro, Juan Martín's late father, had allegedly misappropriated 30.00 M USD of his son's career earnings while managing his financial affairs. A documentary based on del Potro's life, titled "Del Potro: El último match point," was directed by Rodolfo Lamboglia.

In May 2013, del Potro, a Roman Catholic, had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, a fellow Argentine, after mass at the Vatican in Rome. He described the encounter as an "incredible experience" that he would never forget.

8.1. Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

8.2. Grand Slam tournament finals

8.3. Olympic medal matches

8.4. Year-end championships finals

8.5. ATP Tour Masters 1000 finals

8.6. ATP Tour singles finals

8.7. ATP Tour doubles finals

8.8. Team competitions

8.9. Tournament best results

8.10. Year-end rankings