Since Juan Martín Del Potro returned to the US Open to play an exhibition with John McEnroe, on September 7, the possibility was left open. As he faces the last part of the recovery after the fourth surgery on the right knee, and after more than two years away from the courts, the statements of the Tandilense were eloquent: his return in 2022 could include a “close to home” tour of brick dust tournaments.
Those words detonated a bomb, both in social networks and in the bowels of tournaments in Argentina: from the Córdoba Open, one of the two ATP 250s that are played in the country together with the Argentina Open, began the operation to have Del Potro in the 2022 edition, whose date is not confirmed but It will be done in February.
“It was pleasant news that Del Potro has put on the agenda a possible comeback in Argentine tournaments. We want to have him in Córdoba and we are making the maximum possible effort to reach an agreement, “he said this Friday. Marcelo Denti, director of the Tournament Tennis Department -the company that owns the Córdoba Open-, in full presentation of the Challenger of Buenos Aires.
One piece of information: the company that organizes the Córdoba Open already had an official relationship with Del Potro in December 2016, when he carried out two exhibitions against the Spaniard David Ferrer behind the historical conquest of Argentina in the Davis CupOne in Tortuguitas – there was a silver salad bowl on the edge of the court – and another in the Mar del Plata Sports Center.
The former world number three he played six times officially in national territory. One of them was in the ATP of Buenos Aires, in 2006, when he was 17 years old: received an invitation and lost in the first round to Spanish Juan Carlos Ferrero in three sets. The other five corresponded to Davis Cup series: two in 2008, against Russia and Spain; one in 2011, against Kazakhstan; and two in 2012, against Croatia and the Czech Republic. It has been nine years, indeed, since Del Potro played for the last time a game for the points in Argentina: it was on Friday, September 14, 2012, precisely in that 3-2 defeat against the Czechs at Parque Roca.
“In Argentina I played very little; there are alternatives that touch the emotional side and I’m going to go there “Del Potro had said last month in New York. The Córdoba Open is a concrete possibility, of course, although it is not the only one. In addition to the Argentina Open, which belongs to the same slow court tour, there would be a real chance in the Davis Cup, the tournament that the Tandilense has not played since that final for history in Croatia.
Argentina will act again for the salad bowl in March 2022, in Qualifiers, the preliminary round to advance to the Finals, the contest that supplanted the old Davis format. The rival will come out of two alternatives: one located between the 5th and 18th place in the Finals this year or one of those who played reclassification from World Group I in which Argentina defeated Belarus in the departure of Gastón Gaudio as captain. The option for a Delpo appearance arises from two premises: an eventual Argentine location and the words of the new conductor Guillermo Coria.
The Magician, which will debut in March, spoke exclusively with Página / 12 and said that he will meet with Del Potro: “We will not miss the opportunity to meet with Juan Martín to talk and tell me what he thinks. He is our reference and he is the person we need to play again for his sake and for the sake of tennis. Play or not play, having him on the team is very important because of the injection he generates. “
Recognition for Leonardo Mayer after his retirement
Leonardo Mayer announced last week that he will hang up the racket after 19 seasons as a professional. Member of that team that shone in the historic conquest of the Davis Cup, in 2016, the 34-year-old from Corrientes put an end to a career which led him to be 21st in the world and to win, among other trophies, two ATP titles.
The Challenger of Buenos Aires, which will begin this Sunday with the qualy at the Racket Club in Palermo, invite you to the tournament, present you with a plaque and honor you for his great contribution to Argentine tennis. We are in contact with Leo because we want to honor him. His humility does not let him see that he is one of the greats of Argentine tennis, “he said. Mariano Ink, director of the contest, during launch.
Opportunities for new litters
Mariano Ink also announced the special invitations for Argentine players, all under the age of 20 and with a very good future projection: Román Burruchaga, Juan Bautista Torres and Mariano Navone will perform in the main draw, which starts on Monday, while Valerio Aboian, Lautaro Midon and Juan Manuel La Serna they will have a chance in qualy.
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