Juan Martin del Potro set for retirement from professional tennis after Argentina Open and Rio Open

Juan Martin del Potro excited the tennis world when he announced the latest iteration of his comeback to tennis but it is likely that this will the final one from the former US Open champion.

Del Potro announced his intention at his press conference ahead of the Argentina Open to retire from tennis after Buenos Aires and also the Rio Open which will subsequently take place.

After becoming World No.3, Del Potro has battled injury with four right knee surgeries in all and the 33-year-old will call time on his career with no further plans for future tournaments.

Federico Delbonis will be the first to get the honour to play him in Buenos Aires next week.

"Maybe it's more of a farewell than a comeback. I never imagined my retirement from tennis, but there was no better tournament to do it than this tournament. I want to live like a 33-year-old person, without pain," he said translated from Spanish.

"I have been sleeping with pain for two and a half years. Now my struggle is to gain quality of life"

"Tennis is my life. It's my passion," he said with tears in his eyes.