Juan Martin Del Potro He had a very special guest in his farewell to tennis, Novak Djokovicwho came to Argentina especially to accompany his great friend and his old rival in his last performance. But there were other greats of tennis and sport who also wanted to be present at the farewell of the Tandil Tower. And from a distance they moved the people of Tandil to tears.
Roger Federer y Rafael Nadalthe other two members (along with the Serbian) of that Big 3 to which Delpo gave him more than a headache in his best moments, Carlos Alcaraz y Gael Monfilshis new former colleagues, and Emanuel Ginobili, Martin Palermo y Lionel Scaloni They joined the party with messages that were part of an emotional video that reviewed the most exciting moments in the career of the former number three in the world, since that consecration in the US Open 2009 until the unforgettable conquest of the Davis Cup in 2016.
«Juanmartino“Roger here,” started Federer, Delpo’s “victim” in that final 15 years ago in Flushing Meadowsmaking evident with that nickname the close relationship that unites them. “I hope you’re well. I know this is a special moment for you. You are a special player and a special person for the world of tennis.. I hope you had a celebration. You shouldn’t be sad, I hope you aren’t. We all have to move forward in life and I believe that the best is yet to come for you. I hope people in Argentina are celebrating you and with Novak you are going to have a special moment. I would have liked to be there in person, but I want you to know that I am thinking of you. I wish you all the best. It was an honor to face you on the court and spend time together. I hope to see you in the future, very soon,” the Swiss concluded.
Nadal, who hung up his racket just a few weeks ago at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, joked: “Surely at some point we will meet around the world, since now we are both retired.” And he hoped that the Argentine had closed his career happily. «I know they have been difficult years for you, but I just want to congratulate you on a career that has been incredible. It is true that you have had bad luck, but it is also true that you have more than fulfilled what was your childhood dream. I always have you in mind, because I imagine what you must have suffered, but today is a day to be happy and celebrate your career. I wish you the best in your new life and a very strong hug,” said the Mallorcan.
Ginobili, emblem of the Golden Generation Olympic champion in Athens 2004 and with whom Del Potro shared the Argentine delegation in the 2012 and 2016 Games, he reflected: «Dear Delpo. I sincerely hope that the disappointment at the end does not even slightly overshadow the satisfaction of how great you were, the work you put into it and what you transmitted to people. I wanted to be there present in some way. You know I really enjoyed watching you play all those years. I hope you have an incredible night.
«I wanted to thank you for everything you gave us Argentines, for those great unforgettable moments, which will remain marked. I hope you are having a great day, you deserve it a lot. That people are enjoying themselves and showing you the love that you really deserve. From a distance, I send you a big hug,” commented Scaloni, coach of the Argentine world champion soccer team in Qatarwith whom the Tandil native always had a special relationship.
It is worth remembering that when the Combined was playing that tournament at the end of 2022, Del Potro, who had already been struggling for several seasons with an injury to his right knee, promised that if Lionel Messi and his teammates lifted the Cup, he would start training again. And so he did.
Another giant of football that could not be missing at the farewell was Palermo, the eternal idol of BocaDel Potro’s love club. and the Titana person very close to the former world number three, sent him a big hug and reminded him of another very special moment in his life.
«I know it is a very special day for you. Surely you will be accompanying all your people, I would have liked to be there too. You are an example of a person and an athlete for everyone, for all the moments you had to go through and always thought about getting ahead. It is a pleasure to have met you and shared so many moments together. I wanted to remember that happiness and joy that you had the day I invited you to the farewell game and you were able to play in the candy box and how much you enjoyed it,” commented the current coach of Olympiad from Paraguay.
Video
Loop. Del Potro hung up his headband again and said goodbye to tennis
Mirror and model of the new generations of tennis players, Delpo also received some nice words from Alcaraz, this year’s champion in Roland Garros y Wimbledon and who at 21 years old is one of the great stars of the present and future of tennis.
«How are you, man! A long time without being on the tennis court, without playing a match. Enjoy it with Novak. The truth is that your career has been wonderful, incredible. I really enjoyed seeing you. I couldn’t do it sharing a locker room or a court. But it has been a great honor to see you play and fight. For so long fighting injuries, giving everything you had to be able to play tennis again, what you liked most, and in the end you couldn’t. But that grit, that fight, that dedication that you always showed are worthy of admiration,” reflected the Murcian.
Meanwhile, Monfils, another contemporary of the Argentine and also a very beloved player on the circuit, summarized in a short sentence the thoughts of many tennis fans in the world.
«I wish you a happy retirement, I wish you the best for the next chapter of your life. You had the most powerful right we have ever seen. “You are a legend,” said the Frenchman. «Thank you very much, Juan Martín. “It has been a privilege.”
