Juan Martin del Potro aims to play US Open: God will decide if I'm ready or not

• Tennis News
• ATP Tennis

Juan Martin del Potro has vowed to do his best to be able to play at the US Open for at least one more time. Del Potro, 34, retired from pro tennis in Buenos Aires last year. Del Potro, who captured his lone Grand Slam title at the 2009 US Open, in late March first revealed his intention to compete at the US Open.

“My goal is to be ready to play an official match in the tournament. I don’t know if I will be 100% or not but, at least, if my last tennis match ever has to be this year, I want (it to be) at the US Open. I will work hard for the last time, maybe, in my career, and then you never know.

God will decide if I’m ready or not," del Potro told The Associated Press.

The US Open would welcome del Potro

Throughout his career, del Potro was a fan favorite pretty much wherever he went. The US Open was no exception as del Potro used to enjoy a great reception and support at Flushing Meadows.

“Juan Martín is a true favorite of US Open fans. He is a tremendous, yet gracious, competitor and we would be thrilled for this former US Open champion to join us at this year’s tournament," US Open tournament director Stacey Allastar said.

Nowadays, del Potro is associated with padel. When del Potro plays padel, he acts like a tennis player on a padel court, and that usually doesn't work well. “I like to play. My big mistake is that I want to play padel (like) a tennis player — completely the same way.

(But) when you hit hard, you will lose the point. It’s completely different, tennis and padel. Now I’m getting used to how to play. I need to be coached to improve," del Potro said.