Of all the players in men’s tennis that were likely to break the monopoly of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the majors, Juan Martin del Potro has been as likely as anyone.
The Argentine won the 2009 US Open and has reached another final at Flushing Meadows, as well as appearing in a host of other Grand Slam semis and quarter-finals. The 32-year-old is also an Olympic silver medallist.
But a catalog of injuries have, sadly, prevented del Potro from ever really fulfilling his potential, and his troublesome right knee is once again a major concern as he battles to save his career.
Having fractured his kneecap in a match against Borna Coric back in 2018, the former world number three has already had a trio of surgeries on the problem area. However, with none of those helping to minimize the pain, del Potro has now begun a revolutionary ‘cell regeneration’ treatment in Brazil.
If all goes well, he will likely skip the first quarter or so of 2021 to focus on his recovery, before returning to the ATP circuit thereafter. Currently the favorites for the US Open are the usuals, with Djokovic topping the bill at 5/4. But it will be worth watching out for del Potro in the tennis betting odds if he’s ready nearer the time, because he is sure to be a live underdog at a venue where he has excelled previously.
The beauty of hard court tennis is that it is less physically demanding than clay – where the rallies are longer and greater agility is required to return the low ball flight, or on grass, where ankles and knees can take a hammering on the occasionally slippery surface.
So, bettors are advised to swerve del Potro in the French Open and Wimbledon, and instead be aware that – if fit – he can be a major player at Flushing Meadows.
Olympic Sized Ambition
Cell regeneration therapies are becoming more common around the globe, although for now they remain fairly rare in elite-level athletes. But del Potro is reading to give the unique treatment a try having been recommended it by Roger Federer’s doctor, Ronald Biedert, who has already gone through the process to treat his osteoarthritis.
Stem cell therapy works by supposedly triggering damaged cells in the body to repair themselves, helping to heal joint injuries and repair damaged cartilage – which in turn lessens the pain felt. It works by taking a small dose of blood, usually from the arm, and then isolating the stem cells together. These are then injected back into the affected area.
If successful, it would enable del Potro to take to the court again to hit some practice balls and achieve his dream of representing Argentina once more at the Olympics.
His former coach, Marcelo Gomez, is of the opinion that del Potro will only return if he feels he can compete with the best in the world, although the player’s focus is solely on one final swansong. “I have set the Olympic Games as my goal, and if it doesn’t happen I will continue to lie to myself for the love of tennis as I want to retire inside a court,” the Argentine said.
He is very much in last roll of the dice territory, but if the gamble pays off you can be sure that del Potro will need to be respected in the betting market for the Olympics and, of course, the subsequent US Open.
