ATP: Mats Wilander admires Juan Martin del Potro: “Incredible competitor”

Wilander believes del Potro could have become one of the most successful players in history if he hadn’t been regularly held back by intractable injuries.

“He should have become one of the ‘Big Five‘. For me it’s not the ‘big three’ (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, editor’s note). It could be the ‘Big Four’ with Andy Murray , but for me del Potro would have qualified for a place in the ‘Big Five'”, the Swede ennobled the 33-year-old.

He also stressed that del Potro beat the ‘Big Three‘ when they were at their peak. “He really should have been one of them. He would have been one of them. He beat Nadal and Federer at their wedding in a Grand Slam tournament and defeated Novak Djokovic at his best at the Olympics,” said the 57- year olds.

In particular, Wilander was impressed by the affection that the “Tower of Tandil” received in his native Argentina. “The atmosphere in Buenos Aires was incredible,” Wilander said of del Potro’s match against Federico Delbonis. Wilander’s first thought after what seemed to be del Potro’s last match was “how big he is in Argentina and his country.”

Del Potro was a “real statesman”

“If you look at his career, of course he won the US Open with wins against Nadal and Federer, which was incredible,” he said, adding: “But then he also won the only Davis Cup in history for Argentina and he was a silver and bronze medalist at the Olympics. He really was a statesman.”

Especially when compared to other top Argentinian players, del Potro enjoys a very special status in the South American country. “Guillermo Vilas and Gabriela Sabatini are both former Grand Slam champions, but somehow they love del Potro more,” said seven-time major winner Wilander.

Asked about del Potro’s legacy, Wilander said the Argentine will be remembered as the “gentle giant”: “The gentle giant who never gave up, who always believed in his strengths, his serve, his forehand and his South American passion.”

For Wilander, Del Potro was an “incredible and great competitor like Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy.”