Juan Martin Del Potro gives Alcaraz blunt wrist advice after years of injury suffering: “Stopping for four months was an intelligent decision”:

Wednesday, 02 September 2026 at 18:00

Juan Martin del Potro knows better than most what can happen when a tennis player refuses to listen to an injured body. The former US Open champion saw his own career repeatedly interrupted by serious physical problems, particularly in his wrists, and has now used that painful experience to offer advice to Carlos Alcaraz following the Spaniard's four-month absence from the ATP Tour.

Alcaraz returned to competitive singles action at the US Open this week after 139 days away, defeating Roman Safiullin in straight sets in his opening match. The Spaniard admitted afterwards that he had been nervous about returning to competition and acknowledged that his serve was still an area requiring improvement, even though he was relieved to be playing pain-free again.

For Del Potro, however, the most important aspect of Alcaraz's comeback may not be how quickly he can rediscover his highest level. It is whether he can avoid making the mistakes that the Argentine believes ultimately cost him so much during a career that was repeatedly derailed by injuries.

Speaking to La Nacion ahead of his work as part of ESPN's US Open coverage, Del Potro revealed that he had spoken directly with Alcaraz while the Spaniard was still recovering. His message was simple, but it came from years of frustration, surgeries and failed attempts to force his way back onto court.

Del Potro learned the hard way about rushing a comeback

The Argentine's career remains one of the great what-if stories of modern tennis. A US Open champion in 2009, Olympic medalist and former World No. 3, Del Potro possessed a level capable of challenging the Big Three at their peak. But repeated wrist injuries and, later, a devastating knee problem repeatedly interrupted his progress.

His final years as a professional were particularly difficult. Del Potro underwent numerous operations and spent years searching for a solution that would allow him to return without constant pain. His eventual retirement came not because of a lack of desire to continue, but because his body would no longer allow him to do so.

Del Potro playing in Center Court at French Open

Juan Martin del Potro at Roland Garros 2019

That history explains why he viewed Alcaraz's injury layoff differently from those questioning whether the Spaniard should have returned directly to a Grand Slam. Del Potro believes the four-month break was not excessive, but necessary.

“I have a close relationship with him. We crossed paths in the United States while he was still wearing the brace and my advice was: ‘Patience with the wrist and don't touch it.’ I suffered it myself and at that time, because I didn't want to stop or didn't want to lose that No. 4 or No. 5 ranking, I was doing things that Carlitos doesn't have to do today.”

The comment is particularly revealing given the position Alcaraz occupies in the current game. Unlike Del Potro during much of his career, the Spaniard does not need to fight desperately for ranking points to remain among the elite.

"Stopping for four months was an intelligent decision"

Del Potro also pointed to the current gap between the two leading players and the rest of the ATP field as another reason Alcaraz could afford to prioritize his recovery.

“Also, with No. 1 and No. 2 being so far ahead of the rest, they can take a few months and it won't change much in the rankings. So stopping for these four months was an intelligent decision.”

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It is advice that carries considerably more weight coming from Del Potro than from almost anyone else in tennis. His own career was shaped by the constant temptation to return before his body was fully ready, particularly when ranking positions, major tournaments and the possibility of losing momentum were involved.

Alcaraz has now taken the opposite approach. He missed more than four months of competition, skipped the entire European clay and grass-court swings after his injury and arrived in New York without a conventional singles comeback tournament behind him.

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Whether that decision ultimately pays off over the coming fortnight remains to be seen. Alcaraz himself has admitted that he does not know how his body will respond if pushed into a four- or five-set battle.

But for Del Potro, the most important victory may already have happened. Alcaraz stopped, waited and allowed his body the time it needed — precisely the patience that the Argentine admits he did not always have when his own career was being consumed by injuries.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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