'An example for us all' - Del Potro's emotional goodbye to tennis

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro paid an affectional goodbye to tennis aft a farewell accumulation lucifer against Novak Djokovic successful Argentina.

The 36-year-old won his sole awesome title successful 2009 but his profession was blighted by injuries.

The Argentine fractured his knee successful 2019 - an wounded that he says has near him pinch regular symptom - and played successful his last tournament successful 2022.

But he participated successful 'The Last Challenge' successful Buenos Aires against long-time rival and bully friend Djokovic and astir 15,000 watched Del Potro triumph 6-4 7-5.

Del Potro was successful tears respective times during the lucifer and shared a agelong hug pinch Djokovic astatine the end.

He past laid his iconic bandana, which he wore passim his career, connected the mediate of the net.

"I do not cognize a personification who does not emotion Juan Martin del Potro," Djokovic said.

"Juan Martin is an illustration for each of us, and his top triumph successful life is being a awesome person."

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Gael Monfils featured successful a video tribute to the Argentine.

Del Potro hit five-time defending champion Federer to triumph the US Open successful 2009.

He reached the last successful New York again successful 2018 but mislaid to Djokovic.

A celebrated subordinate pinch a immense forehand, Del Potro won 2 Olympic medals - bronze successful 2012 and metallic 4 years later.

He claimed 22 ATP singles titles successful his profession and was arsenic precocious arsenic number 3 successful the world rankings.

However, a wrist wounded derailed his profession aft his US Open triumph earlier he earnestly injured his knee astatine Queen's successful 2019.

Del Potro released a video connected Instagram past week, external discussing the semipermanent effect injuries person had connected his body.

"My regular life isn't what I would for illustration it to be. It's very tough. There are moments wherever I person nary much strength," he said.

"I'm not indestructible. I person bully things, bad things but astir of the clip I person to clone it and put connected a bully face, but galore times I consciousness terrible.

"Since that infinitesimal [after room successful 2019], I was ne'er capable to climb stairs without pain.

"I hurts erstwhile I drive, it hurts galore times erstwhile I spell to sleep. It's been a never-ending nightmare."