Juan Martín Del Potro near Roland Garros, although from a different role

When he visited New York last September, toured the halls of Flushing Meadows and was applauded at the Arthur Ashe that saw him champion in 2009,

assured that he still did not feel like a former player and left the door open for a future return .

Next week, he will step on a court again, although from a different role.

Because he will be the Ambassador of a tournament that will bring together 32 of the best Under 16 rackets in South America (16 boys and 16 girls) in São Paulo and that will give the champions a wild card to play the Roland Garros junior

.

A unique opportunity, which is even more special due to the presence of the man from Tandil.

The dream of playing in the Parisian Grand Slam is one shared by all South American players, who are trained and take their first steps in professionalism on clay.

And thanks to this contest, called

, two young tennis players will be able to fulfill it.

The tournament was born from a collaboration between the

(FFT), the

(COSAT) and the

(CBT), with the support of the

(ITF), which governs the junior circuits. .

It will summon players from ten countries in the region, the host

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

and

, on the powder courts of the Sociedade Harmonia de Tenis, in the capital of São Paulo.

The albiceleste representatives will be

from Santa Fe , 14 years old and 155th in the junior world ranking;

from Tandil

(15th and 172nd) and

from Ushuaia (also 15th and located in the 774th step of the classification).

The two champions will earn a place to play in the junior main draws in Paris, something that would otherwise be out of the reach of the Argentines, since the "cut" for the big tournaments in juniors is around 60th place. of the ranking.

And as if this award were not enough, the boys will live an unforgettable experience, because they will receive advice and advice from Delpo,

champion , double Olympic medalist (bronze in

and silver in

) and former number three of the world

"The ambition of the tournament was strengthened by the presence of Juan Martín Del Potro as ambassador," said

, Director of International Development of the FFT, who also highlighted the commitment of ESPN, which will broadcast the matches on Star+.

Del Potro knows what it's like to play Roland Garros.

As a professional, he played it 9 times, the last in 2019. Photo EFE / Srdjan Suki

"Together with COSAT, we are fully committed to providing all 32 players with a unique experience that will be useful for their future careers," he added.

Del Potro knows very well what it is to play on French brick dust.

In his junior stage, he played the tournament twice: in 2004 he lost in his debut and the following year, he reached the quarterfinals and lost to

.

Already as a professional, he played it nine times and reached the semis twice.

In 2009, he lost in five sets to Swiss

, who later won his only title at that Major.

And in 2018, when he was knocked out by Spaniard

, who lifted his 11th trophy that year in Paris.

Last year, in an interview with

while in New York, the man from Tandil recounted: "I like to advise and advise kids, but because I like them to listen to me and I feel that my message reaches them, that they can take note, apply it and there is a positive result behind it".

He will now be able to transmit all his experience to some of the future stars of South America.

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