Juan Martin del Potro to undergo another knee surgery on Monday in Miami

Former world no. 3 and the US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has decided to undergo another right knee surgery on Monday in Miami, postponing his return and adding more setbacks to his already troubled career. The Argentine fractured his right kneecap against Borna Coric in Shanghai 2018, returning in Delray Beach last season and playing only five tournaments and 12 matches before experiencing the same injury against Denis Shapovalov at Queen's. Juan Martin underwent surgery in Barcelona a couple of days later, hoping to start training again as soon as possible. Returning a couple of months later, del Potro began with some light preparations on and off the court but things haven't worked his way so far, feeling a constant pain in his knee and having to skip the Australian Open for the fifth time in the last six years!

Del Potro had already withdrawn from Delray Beach in February a couple of days ago and it is uncertain when we are going to see him on the court again, having to start from the rock-bottom as many times before. One of the most respectful players on the Tour, del Potro never had the opportunity to show his full potential in consecutive years, enduring numerous injuries over the last ten years or so that have prevented him from chasing more Majors and Masters 1000 crowns after that US Open 2009 triumph at the age of 20! Giving his best to extend career and return where he belongs, the Argentine had managed to come back at his best in 2017 and 2018, entering the top-3 for the first time a year and a half ago before experiencing more setbacks, playing only 12 matches in the season behind us to drop out from the top-100 once again.

Ranked outside the top-1000 three years ago, Juan Martin started to climb back and gain ranking positions, forging a successful comeback trail and winning the silver medal at Rio Olympics before reaching the quarter-final at the US Open and lifting the crown in Stockholm, his first in almost two years! Juan Martin led Argentina towards the long-awaited Davis Cup title at the end of the season in Zagreb against Croatia, using that momentum ahead of 2017 when he played on a high level in a final couple of events to find himself in the top-20, hungry for more of the same in 2018.

That season saw some deep runs and reliable results, claiming back-to-back titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells (his first Masters 1000 crown), followed by the semi-final in Miami that established himself in the top-10. The Argentine lost to Rafael Nadal in the latter stages at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, advancing into the final at the US Open and Beijing, only to close the year after a knee injury in Shanghai against Borna Coric, the same injury that would keep him away from the court since last June. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RSQAqV