Tennis legend Juan Martin del Potro admits he is stuck in a ‘never-ending nightmare’ and is suffering from ‘terrible’ pain every single day.
The Argentine former world No.3, who tasted Grand Slam glory with the US Open title in 2009, officially ended his injury-plagued career in 2022.
Del Potro, a popular player on the ATP Tour, has now opened up about his various injury problems ahead of an exhibition against Novak Djokovic.
The 36-year-old, who is set for a one-off showdown with Djokovic in Buenos Aires next month, reveals he has been taking painkillers daily.
‘My daily life isn’t what I would like it to be,’ Del Potro, who won a total of 22 career titles, said in a video posted on Instagram.
‘I can’t play football, I can’t play padel. It’s terrible. They took [from] me the chance to do what I loved the most, which was to play tennis.
‘It’s very tough. There are moments where I have no more strength. I’m not indestructible.
‘I have good things, bad things but most of the times I have to fake it and put a good face, but many times I feel terrible.
‘Every day when I wake up I have to take six or seven pills. Gastric protectors, anti-inflammatories, one for anxiety.
‘Then the pills made me gain weight so they told me to stop eating some things.’
Del Potro, who reached at least the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams across his career, fractured his kneecap in a first-round battle against Denis Shapovalov at Queen’s Club five years ago.
‘Since that moment, I was never able to climb stairs without pain,’ Del Potro added. ‘I hurts when I drive, it hurts many times when I go to sleep. It’s been a never-ending nightmare.’
Del Potro did not play again professionally until his farewell event at the Argentina Open in February 2022 after his injury at Queen’s in the UK.