Juan Martin del Potro just can’t catch a break from all the injuries. Although he just fully recovered from last year’s knee injury, del Potro is now looking at another lengthy break following a right kneecap fracture he suffered on Thursday. This injury also means he might have played his last tennis match as a professional.
The 30-year-old Argentinian injured his knee during a first-round match against Denis Shapovalov at Queen’s Club tournament. Del Potro managed to get a 7-5, 6-4 win but finished the duel with knee pain and swelling before finding out that he will require surgery on it.
“The medical studies done last night in a clinic in London show that Juan Martin del Potro has suffered a fracture again in the right patella,” – del Potro’s spokesperson Jorge Viale wrote on social media. “After consultation with his doctor, Angel Cotorro, it has been determined that it will require surgery.”
Juan Martin del Potro also addressed the injury in a video message directed to his fans which he posted on social media. In this video, del Potro revealed that he will undergo surgery in Barcelona while also briefly addressing his tennis future.
“If that match was the last of one my career, that I don’t know,” – he said. “During rehab, I will be able to think clearly. I will know what my body is able to do.”
Del Potro is considered one of the most talented tennis players of his generations, but the injury struggles, which included four wrist surgeries, have stopped him from reaching his full potential. His best result as a pro is winning U.S. Open in 2009, while he also has two semi-finals on French Open and has reached semis in Wimbledon once.
