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Del Potro: "It's more of a farewell than a comeback"
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JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI v EPA
Former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro is set to return to the tour after a long injury layoff and is then likely to retire.
In the coming week, the Argentinian tennis pro will return to a tournament in Buenos Aires after two and a half years.
“It's more of a farewell than a comeback.
I've tried different treatments and seen doctors for many years, and I could never have imagined retiring from tennis without playing," the 33-year-old said, visibly moved, at a press conference.
On Tuesday he meets his compatriot Federico Delbonis in the first round.
“I couldn't have found a better tournament than Buenos Aires to do that.
After this week I will think about the future.« Del Potro also has a wild card for the ATP tournament in Rio de Janeiro a week later.
The highlight of Del Potro's career came when he won the 2009 US Open, beating Roger Federer in the final.
The former world number three also won Olympic bronze in singles in London 2012 and silver in Rio 2016.
He won the Davis Cup with Argentina in 2016.
During his career he had to struggle with injuries again and again, knees and wrists in particular caused problems.
In June 2019, Del Potro suffered a fractured kneecap and hasn't played since, slipping him to 757th in the world rankings.
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