Juan Martín del Potro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Juan Martín del Potro

Del Potro after winning the 2018 Indian Wells Masters
Country (sports)	Argentina
Residence	Tandil, Argentina
Born	(1988-09-23) 23 September 1988 (age 36) Tandil, Argentina
Height	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Turned pro	2005
Retired	2022
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	US$25,896,046  20th all-time leader in earnings
Singles
Career record	439–174 (71.6%)
Career titles	22
Highest ranking	No. 3 (13 August 2018)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (2009, 2012)
French Open	SF (2009, 2018)
Wimbledon	SF (2013)
US Open	W (2009)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2009)
Olympic Games	F (2016)
Doubles
Career record	41–44 (48.2%)
Career titles	1
Highest ranking	No. 105 (25 May 2009)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	1R (2006, 2007)
Wimbledon	1R (2007, 2008)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	W (2016)
Medal record Representing  Argentina Olympic Games Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Singles Bronze 2012 London Singles

Juan Martín del Potro is an Argentine former professional tennis player. He was born on September 23, 1988. He reached world No. 3 in men's singles in August 2018, which was his highest ranking.

Del Potro won 22 singles titles on the ATP Tour, including a major championship at the 2009 US Open. In that tournament, he famously beat both Rafael Nadal and the five-time defending champion Roger Federer. His other big achievements include reaching the 2018 US Open final, winning a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He also won the Indian Wells tournament in 2018 and helped Argentina win the 2016 Davis Cup title.

Sadly, his career was often affected by many wrist and knee injuries. He first entered the top 10 of the ATP rankings in October 2008. After his US Open win, he was the only player outside the "Big Three" (Nadal, Federer, and Novak Djokovic) to win a major title between 2005 and 2012. He officially retired in 2024 after a special exhibition match against Novak Djokovic.

Early Life and Interests

Juan Martín del Potro was born in Tandil, Argentina. His father, Daniel del Potro, was a veterinarian and played rugby union. His mother, Patricia Lucas, is a teacher. He has a younger sister named Julieta.

Besides tennis, Juan Martín enjoys playing association football (soccer). He supports the Boca Juniors team in Argentina and Juventus in Italy. He spent time playing both sports when he was young.

Del Potro started playing tennis at age seven with coach Marcelo Gómez. His talent was noticed by former Italian tennis player Ugo Colombini, who became his agent and close friend. In 2007, del Potro said he dreamed of winning a Grand Slam and the Davis Cup. He later achieved both of these goals.

Tennis Career Highlights

Junior Years and Early Professional Start

Del Potro played his first junior match in April 2003 when he was 14. As a junior, he won the Orange Bowl 14s title in 2002. He reached world No. 3 in the junior rankings by January 2005.

In May 2004, at age 15, del Potro won his first senior match. He reached his first senior singles final in 2005 and then won three straight titles at smaller tournaments. He turned professional in June 2005. By the end of 2005, he had climbed over 900 spots in the rankings to finish at world No. 157. He was the youngest player in the top 200 that year.

Breaking into the Top 100

In 2006, del Potro played his first ATP Tour event. He qualified for his first major tournament, the French Open, at age 17. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors tournament. Del Potro finished 2006 as the youngest player in the top 100.

Reaching the Top 50

Del Potro started 2007 by reaching his first ATP semifinal in Australia. He played for Argentina in the Davis Cup and helped his country reach the quarterfinals. He also made it to the fourth round of the Miami Open, beating three top-50 players before losing to Rafael Nadal.

At his first Wimbledon Championships, he lost to eventual champion Roger Federer in the second round. Later that year, he won his first doubles tournament in Indianapolis. Del Potro finished 2007 as the youngest player in the top 50.

Winning First Titles and Joining the Top 10

Del Potro won four consecutive titles in 2008, with the final one coming in Washington.

The first part of 2008 was tough for del Potro due to injuries. However, he had a very successful summer. In July, he won his first ATP Tour title at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. A week later, he won his second title in Kitzbühel.

In August, del Potro won his third title in Los Angeles, beating Andy Roddick in the final. A week after that, he won his fourth straight title in Washington, D.C. This made him the first player in ATP history to win his first four career titles in a row.

At the 2008 US Open, he reached the quarterfinals but lost to Andy Murray. This ended his 23-match winning streak, which was the second-longest in 2008. Del Potro helped Argentina reach the Davis Cup final that year. He finished 2008 as the youngest player in the top 10.

Becoming a Grand Slam Champion in 2009

At the 2009 French Open, del Potro made the semifinals, losing to eventual champion Federer

Del Potro started 2009 by winning the Auckland Open. At the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals. He then beat Rafael Nadal for the first time at the Miami Open. After this, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 5.

At the French Open, he made it to his first Grand Slam semifinal, where he lost to Roger Federer. A few weeks later, he successfully defended his title at the Washington tournament.

Del Potro at the 2009 US Open

At the US Open, del Potro was seeded sixth. He reached the semifinals, where he defeated world No. 3 Rafael Nadal. This was his third win in a row against Nadal. In the final, del Potro came back from being down to defeat world No. 1 and five-time defending champion Roger Federer in five sets. This was his first win against Federer after six previous losses.

He became the first Argentine man to win the US Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977. At 198 cm (6 ft 6 in), he was the tallest Grand Slam champion at that time. Del Potro was also the first player to beat both Nadal and Federer in the same Grand Slam tournament. He finished 2009 as the youngest player in the top 10 for the second year in a row.

Battling Injuries: 2010-2015

Del Potro's 2010 season was greatly affected by a wrist injury. He had to withdraw from many tournaments, including the 2010 Australian Open. He had surgery on his right wrist in May 2010 and missed most of the season. He returned to play in late 2010 but struggled.

In 2011, del Potro began his comeback. He won two titles, the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships and the 2011 Estoril Open. He reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters. He also played a key role in the Davis Cup semifinal, helping Argentina reach the final. He finished 2011 ranked world No. 11, after being as low as No. 485 earlier in the year. He was named the ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2012, del Potro continued to climb the rankings. He won four titles and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and French Open. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, he won a bronze medal in singles, beating Novak Djokovic. He finished 2012 ranked world No. 7.

Del Potro at the Queen's Club, 2013

In 2013, del Potro reached the semifinals of Wimbledon for the first time. He had a great run at the Indian Wells Masters, beating Andy Murray and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic before losing to Rafael Nadal in the final. He won four titles in 2013 and finished the year back in the top 5.

Unfortunately, more wrist problems arose in 2014. He had surgery on his left wrist in March 2014 and missed the rest of the season. In 2015, he tried to return but had to undergo two more surgeries on his left wrist, keeping him off the tour for most of that year as well.

The Great Comeback: 2016-2018

Del Potro made another comeback in 2016. He played his first tournament in almost a year at the Delray Beach Open, reaching the semifinals.

Del Potro at the 2016 Summer Olympics

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, del Potro had an amazing run. He defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round and then beat Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. He won a silver medal after a tough final against Andy Murray.

At the US Open, he reached the quarterfinals as a wildcard entry. He then played a thrilling five-set match against Andy Murray in the Davis Cup semifinal, which he won. Del Potro won his first title since his return from injury at the Stockholm Open. He then helped Argentina win its first ever 2016 Davis Cup title, coming back from two sets down in a crucial match against Marin Čilić. For the second time, he was named ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2017, del Potro continued his strong return. He reached the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open. At the US Open, he had another memorable run. He saved two match points in a five-set victory against Dominic Thiem. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Roger Federer in four sets, reaching his first major semifinal since 2013. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. He successfully defended his Stockholm Open title, winning his 20th career ATP title.

Del Potro at the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, where he won his first Masters 1000 title of his career

Del Potro started 2018 by returning to the top 10 rankings. He won the Acapulco Open, his 21st title. His biggest achievement came at the Indian Wells Open, where he won his first Masters 1000 title. In the final, he beat Roger Federer in a close three-set match, saving three championship points.

He continued his success at the Miami Open, reaching the semifinals. At the French Open, he reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009. In August 2018, he reached a new career-high ranking of world No. 3. At the 2018 US Open, he reached his second Grand Slam final, but lost to Novak Djokovic. His season ended early due to another knee injury.

Later Career and Retirement

Del Potro's knee injury continued to affect him in 2019. He played only a few tournaments and suffered another serious kneecap fracture in June 2019. This injury kept him out of professional tennis for a long time. He underwent four knee surgeries between 2019 and 2021.

In January 2022, del Potro announced he would return to professional tennis at the Argentina Open. However, he also said that this would likely be his farewell tournament due to ongoing knee pain. He lost in the first round of the Argentina Open and has not played any matches since. He officially retired in 2022.

In December 2024, del Potro played a special farewell exhibition match called 'The Last Challenge' against Novak Djokovic in Buenos Aires.

Playing Style

Del Potro hits a forehand.

Del Potro is known as an offensive baseliner. This means he plays from the back of the court and uses powerful shots to win points. His serve is very strong, and his groundstrokes are heavy, especially his forehand. His forehand is one of his main strengths and is considered one of the most powerful in tennis, often reaching speeds over 160 km/h. Many players and experts consider it one of the best forehands on tour.

Before his injuries, he had a very consistent and powerful two-handed backhand. However, after his wrist surgeries, his backhand became a weaker point. Since his return in 2016, he changed his game to protect his wrist. He started using a one-handed slice more often, which helps move opponents and slow down rallies so he can set up his powerful forehand. He also improved his serve to make up for his backhand.

Equipment and Apparel

Del Potro has used Wilson racquets throughout his career. He is quite superstitious and preferred to use the exact racquets he used to win the 2009 US Open. He uses Luxilon ALU Power strings.

His clothing sponsor is Nike. He often wears crew shirts, double-wide wristbands, and a bandana. For shoes, he wears Nike Air Max Cages.

Record Against Top Players

Del Potro has a strong record against the "Big Four" (Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray). He is one of the few players to have won at least three matches against each of them.

Roger Federer

Del Potro has won 7 matches and lost 18 against Roger Federer. He has a good record against Federer in finals, winning 4 out of 6. Besides the 2009 US Open title, del Potro also beat Federer in the finals of the 2012 and 2013 Swiss Indoors and the 2018 Indian Wells tournament. Federer won their long match at the 2012 Olympics semifinal, which lasted over four hours. Del Potro also beat Federer in the 2017 US Open quarterfinals.

Novak Djokovic

Del Potro has won 4 matches and lost 16 against Novak Djokovic. Djokovic won their first four matches. Del Potro's wins include the 2012 Summer Olympics bronze medal match and the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Djokovic defeated del Potro in the final of the 2018 US Open.

Rafael Nadal

Del Potro has won 6 matches and lost 11 against Rafael Nadal. He beat Nadal in the semifinals on his way to winning the 2009 US Open. He also defeated Nadal in the semifinal of the 2016 Olympics in Rio. In their last meeting at the 2018 US Open, del Potro advanced to the final when Nadal had to retire due to injury.

Andy Murray

Del Potro has won 3 matches and lost 7 against Andy Murray. Murray won their first final at the 2009 Rogers Cup. Del Potro beat Murray in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Indian Wells Masters. Murray won their second final at the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, del Potro got revenge by beating Murray in a very long five-set match during the 2016 Davis Cup semifinal.

Personal Life

Juan Martín del Potro dated singer Jimena Barón from 2017 to 2018, and model Sofia Jimenez from 2018 to 2020.

In 2013, del Potro met Pope Francis, who is also from Argentina, at the Vatican. He described it as an amazing experience he would never forget. He is a Roman Catholic.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance

Grand Slam Finals

Singles: 2 (1 Title, 1 Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2009	US Open	Hard	Roger Federer	3–6, 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–2
Loss	2018	US Open	Hard	Novak Djokovic	3–6, 6–7(4–7), 3–6

Olympic Gold Medal Matches

Singles: 1 (1 Silver Medal)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2016	Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro	Hard	Andy Murray	5–7, 6–4, 2–6, 5–7

Year-End Championships Finals

Singles: 1 (1 Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2009	ATP World Tour Finals, UK	Hard (i)	Nikolay Davydenko	3–6, 4–6

Masters 1000 Finals

Singles: 4 (1 Title, 3 Runner-ups)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2009	Canadian Open	Hard	Andy Murray	7–6(7–4), 6–7(3–7), 1–6
Loss	2013	Indian Wells Masters	Hard	Rafael Nadal	6–4, 3–6, 4–6
Loss	2013	Shanghai Masters	Hard	Novak Djokovic	1–6, 6–3, 6–7(3–7)
Win	2018	Indian Wells Masters	Hard	Roger Federer	6–4, 6–7(8–10), 7–6(7–2)

See also

In Spanish: Juan Martín del Potro para niños