Juan Martin del Potro had his career derailed by injuries.
The Argentinian star won a Grand Slam title, but could have won so much more if he had remained healthy.
What is the one tennis result you would like to change?
Plenty to pick from!
Former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier believes Del Potro could have ‘altered tennis history’ if not for injuries.
Jim Courier says Juan Martin del Potro was ‘robbed’ by injuries
During the latest episode of ‘Beyond The Numbers‘, Courier remembered Juan Martin del Potro’s career.
“I’m going to talk about a player who had massive tools, and may have altered the course of tennis history, had he been able to stay healthy,” he said.
“Sadly, Juan Martin del Potro couldn’t.
“This guy had a thunderous serve, and thunderous forehand, and he could go toe to toe with the big four, because he was right in the thick of that era.”
Juan Martin del Potro’s H2H record vs the ‘big four’
- Juan Martin del Potro (7-18) Roger Federer
- Juan Martin del Potro (6-11) Rafael Nadal
- Juan Martin del Potro (4-16) Novak Djokovic
- Juan Martin del Potro (3-7) Andy Murray
- Total – 20 wins
Jessica Pegula’s coach, Mark Knowles, was also keen to weigh in, as he looked back upon Del Potro’s 2009 US Open triumph.
“You have so much sympathy because not only was he a great player, but he’s a great person,” said Knowles.
“I was around for that ‘09 final, because I was in the doubles final, I got to see it live.
“It was spectacular… it was a level of tennis, you would have to say [Roger] Federer was pretty close to his prime, maybe you could argue ‘04 to ‘08 was really his prime, but ’09 is not far off, so he was beating Federer at his best in a Grand Slam final.
“It’s hard not to think what would have been had he stayed healthy.
“Big serve, big forehand, another guy that believed in himself in the big moments as well.
“You see the respect the top guys have for DelPo, even now, when they see him around events, there is a bit of reverence there, realising that this guy could have been a part of the big three.”
Del Potro never won another Grand Slam after 2009, as injuries began to derail his career.
He did, however, enjoy another spell at the top of men’s tennis in the late 2010s, where he reached world number three, won the Davis Cup, Indian Wells, and played the 2018 US Open final.
Juan Martin del Potro’s career achievements
- Grand Slam titles – 1 (2009 US Open)
- Career-high ranking – 3rd (2018)
- Masters 1000 titles – 1 (2018 Indian Wells)
- Davis Cup titles – 1 (2016)
- Olympic medals – 2 (2016 – Silver, 2012 – Bronze)
- ATP titles – 22 (2008-2018)
“His ranking was going great in 2018, then he was playing Shanghai, his knee went out, fractured his knee, did it again at Queen’s the next year,” said Courier.
“It’s hard for him.
“Our hearts go out to Juan Martin because we love him, we loved watching him.
“He was robbed of so many good moments, but he did leave a big mark on the sport.”
The gentle giant retired from tennis in 2025, having last played a professional match three years earlier.
How would tennis have changed if Juan Martin del Potro stayed fit?
When Del Potro defeated Federer in the 2009 US Open final, many expected the Argentine to add more Grand Slam titles to his résumé over the coming years.
And if it weren’t for his many injuries, he likely would have done just that.
Had Del Potro stayed fit, there’s a real chance that neither Djokovic, Nadal, nor Federer would have reached the 20 Slam mark.
With another elite player in the mix, the ‘big three’ wouldn’t have had quite so much success.
And when looking back on the ‘end of an era’, as we are now, it could have been Del Potro, not Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray, considered the ‘next best player’.
The reality is, we will never know how Del Potro’s career would have panned out if he had stayed injury-free, and that truly is a shame.
Still, he is a Grand Slam champion, and nobody can take that away from him!