Juan Martin Del Potro announces emotional farewell match against Novak Djokovic

Juan Martín Del Potro has announced his farewell match against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The 2009 US Open champion retired in 2022 at the Buenos Aires Open at the age of 33, after years of battling injuries. The exhibition match will take place in Buenos Aires on December 1st.

‘The Tower of Tandil’ was one of the fiercest contenders against the Big-3. The Argentine secured victories over Federer (7-18), Nadal (6-11), and Djokovic (4-16), placing him second in the number of wins against the Big-3, tied with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and only behind Andy Murray (30).

“I have a dream, I want to play my last match in Argentina, and I’d love for you to be there,” Del Potro said to Djokovic in a promotional video. “Are you kidding? Of course, I’ll be there,” Djokovic responded in perfect Spanish.

“Seriously?” replied the former World No. 3. “For you, in Argentina? Yes, of course,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion concluded, as the two embraced at the end of the video.

Del Potro won a total of 22 titles and reached 13 other finals. His remarkable career includes the 2009 US Open title over Federer and a loss in the 2018 final to Djokovic. He claimed the Indian Wells title in 2018, led Argentina to a Davis Cup victory in 2016, and earned a bronze medal in London 2012 and a silver in Rio 2016.

Despite Djokovic’s dominance in their head-to-head (16-4, 80%), Del Potro had several memorable victories over him. In 2011, during the Davis Cup semifinals, Del Potro defeated Djokovic in the deciding match, securing Argentina’s place in the final. At the 2012 London Olympics, Del Potro took the bronze medal after defeating Djokovic in the third-place match.

However, their most painful encounter for Djokovic was probably at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Del Potro, ranked No. 141 at the time, knocked out the World No. 1 in the first round, ending Djokovic’s hopes of winning an Olympic gold medal.