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Juan Martin del Potro, the towering Argentine with a powerful forehand, has unquestionably left his stamp on tennis. He has achieved a number of victories over the course of a career spanning nearly two decades, including a Grand Slam crown, an Olympic silver medal and a Davis Cup title.
So does del Potro's success make him the best tennis player to have ever represented Argentina? Let's examine his accomplishments in more detail and contrast them with those of other Argentine legends to determine if he merits the moniker of "greatest of all time."
Juan Martin del Potro: A career overview
Del Potro's career was plagued by injuries, which many believe kept him from achieving the heights that his talent and potential deserved. His only Grand Slam victory came at the 2009 US Open, when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals before overcoming Roger Federer in the summit clash.
Del Potro was supposed to regularly compete against the best players in the world, but a string of wrist problems that required three operations slowed him down. Despite the setbacks though, he persevered and returned in 2016, capturing the silver medal at the Olympics in Rio.
Del Potro won a total of 22 singles titles and achieved his highest singles ranking of World No. 3 in 2018.
Although the Argentinian hasn't officially retired yet, it appears like his professional days are practically over. After a 6-1, 6-3 loss against compatriot Federico Delbonis at the Argentina Open last month, Del Potro said:
“Today is a full stop. Now I have to take care of my knee for my life, for day-to-day life. But I am going to leave the window open in tennis because what I experienced tonight is unforgettable. If today was my last game, I’m leaving happy.”
Del Potro did also say that he hasn't completely given up on his career.
“I don’t know if it’s going to happen, because the pain in my knee is very high. But I will keep doing a big effort to fix the knee, and if I get that, maybe I will have another chance to play.”
Career highlights of other great Argentine tennis players
Argentina has produced a number of great tennis players who have made their mark on the sport and inspired countless young players.
Let’s have a look at some of them below:
1. Guillermo Villas
Guillermo Vilas won 62 ATP titles over a career spanning more than two decades, including four Grand Slams. He was the first tennis player from Argentina to win the French Open, which he did in 1977.
Vilas also lost the French Open final thrice - to Bjorn Borg in 1975 and 1978, and to Mats Wilander in 1982. He was renowned for his unrelenting baseline approach and capacity to outlast rivals during extended rallies.
Vilas was a dominant force in several important tournaments in addition to his achievements in Grand Slam competitions. He took home seven titles at the Italian Open, eight at the South American Championships, and four at the Madrid Open. He also led Argentina to their maiden Davis Cup final - in 1981, when they lost to the United States.
2. David Nalbandian
David Nalbandian, another outstanding Argentine tennis player, was renowned for his adaptable style and his capacity to defeat the greatest players in the world on any court.
Nalbandian began playing tennis at an early age and immediately showed tremendous potential. He became a professional in 2000 and soon established himself on the tennis scene around the world.
Nalbandian won 11 championships and advanced to the Wimbledon Championships final in 2002, where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt. In 2003 he advanced to the US Open semifinal, before falling to Andy Roddick in a tightly contested match.
Conclusion: Who is the greatest Argentine tennis player of all time?
The number of championships won, their achievements in Grand Slams and other important tournaments, their consistency over a long period of time, and their influence on the sport are all things to take into account when comparing these players.
Del Potro has only won one Grand Slam championship, but the fact that he has been a top 10 player in multiple years speaks volumes about his skills and ability. He has also defeated some of the greatest players in history, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest level.
Vilas, however, is still the greatest Argentine tennis player of all time in terms of career accomplishments. Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades, he amassed 62 titles, including four Grand Slams. In 1977 he also held the top spot in the world rankings, which is a notable accomplishment.
Vilas had a significant influence on tennis as well, encouraging a lot of young Argentine tennis players to play and succeed at the top levels.
