Del Potro Watch

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

del potro steps back onto the clay for the first time since 1980.

 

[britbox]

Seems like it. I always liked Delpo on clay... well, at Roland Garros in a best of 5.

 

[isabelle]

Can't wait to see him back in Munich

 

[Moxie]

Juan Martin says he will not play RG in order to concentrate on Wimbledon.

 

[britbox]

Juan Martin says he will not play RG in order to concentrate on Wimbledon.

My first reaction was that it was a surprise...but when you consider it - he's still slicing a lot of backhands, which isn't going to be an issue so much on grass and he's going to avoid the gruelling physicality of a Roland Garros campaign. Wise man.

 

[Moxie]

My first reaction was that it was a surprise...but when you consider it - he's still slicing a lot of backhands, which isn't going to be an issue so much on grass and he's going to avoid the gruelling physicality of a Roland Garros campaign. Wise man.

With no tune-up, it would be a fool's errand. Let's hope he's in good shape and just trying to make smart decisions.

 

[britbox]

With no tune-up, it would be a fool's errand. Let's hope he's in good shape and just trying to make smart decisions.

I think it tells us he's still got pretty big issues to manage.

 

[Billie]

Poor Delpo, if it is not an injury time out, then it is skipping tournaments and manipulating which ones to play. He has enough time now to prepare for Wimbledon, let's hope he does well there.

 

[isabelle]

Delpo is done for tennis I'm afraid, I can't believe he's healthy and out of RG where he has a better chance than on grass. i guess he still has some problems with his wrist

 

[Moxie]

He doesn't have to be "done," though he may not have another Major in him or in his wrist. But I think he's going to have to take it slowly and be patient. If he can hang onto his love of playing, there may be a fine career left in him.

 

[britbox]

Feature on Delpo's return.

 

[El Dude]

Everyone wants to be optimistic, but the last few years don't look too promising for Del Potro. In fact, when I look at him I worry about Alexander Zverev, another very tall player with a vaguely similar game and body (emphasis on "vaguely"). Age-wise, 2008 was for Del Potro what 2017 is for Zverev (turning 20), with Del Potro almost half a year younger. Juan Martin won his Slam in 2009 and looked to turn the Big Four into a Big Five - just as I've predicted that Zverev will breakout in a big way in 2018. Then 2010 happened, and he has never looked like the same player and been injured most of the time since then.

Interesting stat: From 2010 RG on, Del Potro has played in exactly half (14) of all (28) Slams.

 

[Moxie]

Everyone wants to be optimistic, but the last few years don't look too promising for Del Potro. In fact, when I look at him I worry about Alexander Zverev, another very tall player with a vaguely similar game and body (emphasis on "vaguely"). Age-wise, 2008 was for Del Potro what 2017 is for Zverev (turning 20), with Del Potro almost half a year younger. Juan Martin won his Slam in 2009 and looked to turn the Big Four into a Big Five - just as I've predicted that Zverev will breakout in a big way in 2018. Then 2010 happened, and he has never looked like the same player and been injured most of the time since then.

Interesting stat: From 2010 RG on, Del Potro has played in exactly half (14) of all (28) Slams.

While I agree that Del Potro is facing an uphill climb to ever get a glimmer of the original promise he showed, going forward, he may get to ride in a bit on the tail of the fading Big 4 comet. However, I think you're wrong to use him as a metric for Zverev. Yes, the big guys can have more physical issues, but can you tell me anyone that is as talented as Del Potro who was as snake-bit by injury? I think he's an anomaly and can't be used as a pattern.

 

[El Dude]

I hope you're right, Moxie, and my fear is probably irrational.

On the contrary, who is the best 6'6" player? Have there been any great ones? I don't think so. As far as I know, there have only been single Slam players at that height - del Potro, Cilic. Even Ivanisevic and Safin were 6'4".

Of course the game has changed, and some have posited that the future of tennis are tall players. Not sure about that, though.

 

[Moxie]

The best 6'6" player is still Del Potro until further notice. As you say, the game has changed, and if we're worrying about the tall players, you can bet their trainers are. Zverev is a bean pole and has yet to fill out. One person he might look to is Murray, who went to the gym and filled out and didn't seem to miss time with "awkwardness." There is a 3" difference, but Andy is the tallest of the Big 4, and I think that should be Sasha's model. For now, the sweet spot in height seems to be 6'1"-6'-3", but it could push higher and be ok. Every athlete's body is different. And let's just face it: Juan Martin has been rather tragically unlucky in his.

 

[isabelle]

Delpo said in presser yesterday that I'ld play Estoril, Madrid, Roma and RG....hope he won't be injured and really play all those events

 

[britbox]

I guess Madrid and Roma are really mandatory unless he does call off with injury. I don't actually like them being so close together before a major.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

estoril atp250 is good..zero chance of getting Federer/Djokovic early in the tourney. get some rank points.

he is borderline top32 seed depending on how many folk above drop out. do other master's apart from iw/miami have 32 seeds ?.

 

[Moxie]

Came upon this while looking up the latest on Juan Martin. DelPo enjoying a little "Despacito," then answered by Novak.

 

[britbox]

Delpo's calendar for the next few months: