Martina Navratilova left 'so sad' after what Juan Martin del Potro has said

Martina Navratilova left ‘so sad’ after what Juan Martin del Potro has said

Posted by Admin November 27, 2024 Tennis

Martina Navratilova sends a message to Juan Martin del Potro as he continues to battle his injury issues.

Though he has been retired since February 2022, Del Potro revealed he still deals with pain during an emotional Instagram video released on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old’s career was blighted by injury, though he still managed to win 22 titles, one of which was a Grand Slam.

Juan Martin Del Potro played just one match between June 2019 and his final match in 2022, when he bid an emotional farewell in front of his home fans at the Argentina Open.

What did Martina Navratilova send to Juan Martin del Potro?

Del Potro says he is still in so much pain over two years after he stopped playing professional tennis.

“I haven’t run since I was 31, I can’t climb a ladder, I can’t kick a ball, I never played tennis properly again,” he said. “Do I live 15 more years of my life like this so that, at 50, they put the prosthesis on me and live more or less well at 60?

“I get up and take between 6 and 8 pills, between an anti-inflammatory, a painkiller, and another for anxiety. Hopefully one day it will end, because I want to live without pain.”

He received plenty of well-wishes, including from Martina Navratilova, who replied to the above quotes on X and sent an encouraging message to the 2016 Olympic silver medalist.

“So sad, I hope he finds a solution to a pain free life,” she said. “He deserves a lot better than this, good luck Juan Martín!!!”

Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images

Is Juan Martin del Potro going to play tennis again?

Though his battle to become pain-free has been a struggle, Del Potro is set to take to the tennis court once again.

On December 1 he is due to play Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match in front of his home fans in Buenos Aires.

In the same Instagram video, the former World number three, who won four of his 20 meetings against Djokovic, said he has gained some extra motivation to prepare for this match and is looking forward to feeling some joy on court once again.

“I started my diet, I’m losing weight, I’m training. I want to arrive at that match in the best shape possible. It’s a match to say goodbye,” Del Potro said.

“Djokovic was very generous in accepting my invitation. I want to give him all the love possible. If at least for one, two or three hours I can be at peace and happy on a tennis court, it will be beautiful.”