Juan Martin del Potro has mastered the art of the comeback before and fully understands the daunting climb back to the Top 10.
Fourteen months ago, del Potro was No. 3 in the world.
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Training for a return from his fifth surgery, del Potro is candid about his comeback expectations.
Del Potro says his days as a Top 10 player are done.
"I do not expect to be [in] the Top 10 again after all the problems," del Potro told the Argentinean media. "It’s not easy to repeat a similar year but you never know."
The 2009 US Open champion underwent right knee surgery on June 22nd after fracturing his kneecap twice in the past year.
It was del Potro's fifth surgery. The 31-year-old tower of Tandil underwent three left wrist surgeries in a 15-month span from 2014 to 2015 years after a right wrist surgery on May 4th, 2010.
Still, del Potro is optimistic he can return to a competitive level of play if his body permits it
“If I am still in a good shape and I am feeling healthy, I can feel strong again," del Potro said. “I am older but I can play a good tennis and that’s my motivation.”
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve