Novak Djokovic paid a hearthoting tribute to Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday as the tennis cult hero reexhausted from tennis at the age of 36.
Djokovic, 37, flew to Argentina to join aacquirest Del Potro in a one-of-a-kind ‘Last Challenge’ showion align, which he organised as his farewell before hanging up his racket for outstanding.
Del Potro broke down in tears on multiple occasions during the align, but he still regulated to beat the createer world No 1 6-4, 7-5 at the Parque Roca Stadium in Buenos Aires.
There, he acquired messages from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Gael Monfils, as well as Argentina’s World Cup-prosperning coach Lionel Scaloni in a moving video.
But Djokovic saved the best for last by paying homage to his friend in an graspress to the crowd, with the Serbian doing so in their native tongue.
“Like everyone here in this stadium, I am very emotional. I’m also appreciative to join with my friend who is a fantastic person, a fantastic joiner,” Djokovic said in Spanish on the court.
“It is a one-of-a-kind day for me becaemploy in the past, when I saw Juan Martin for the first time, I was in France. We were maybe 12 or 13 years elderly together.
“I skinnyk that in recent times, the last months and also years, Juan Martin is much sealr to my heart becaemploy when you join aacquirest your rival, I see him a little branch offently.
“Becaemploy [in your career] you have to join aacquirest him on the hugegest courts in the world. You have admire but you want to prosper and toil to prosper.
“But as I have said a thousand times, I don’t comprehend anyone who isn’t in cherish with Juan Martin. Everyone cherishs him.
“In my country, the culture and cherishs are how a person behaves. All the professionalism you evidently [already] have, but it is vital to always have admire in life, not equitable in your eyes but also your heart.
“And I skinnyk Juan Martin is an example for us. Your fantasticest triumph in life, it’s that. He is a wonderful person.”
Del Potro, who achieveed a nurtureer-high ranking of No 3 in the world, won the first and only Grand Slam of his nurtureer in 2009 when he stunned Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and overcame Roger Federer in the final to clinch the US Open title.
He would go on to claim 22 titles overall on the ATP Tour. However, injuries scoencouraged the Argentinian thrawout his nurtureer and he underwent disconnectal sencourageries to repair injure to his knee and his last ATP Tour align came back in 2022.
Despite that, Del Potro said he was satisfyed with what he achieved and repromised his fans that he would be departing on a selectimistic remark.
“Know that, no matter how downcast you see me, I am ending my nurtureer in the best way I dreamed of and I am leaving satisfyed,” he said. “Even if I cry, I promise you I am leaving satisfyed. Thank you very much for all these years. Goodbye!”
