Juan Martín del Potro

Su nombre completo es Juan Martín del Potro... Sus apodos son Enano, Palito y Delpo… Comenzó a jugar tenis a los 7 años con el entrenador Marcelo Gómez… Es originario de la misma ciudad (Tandil) de done son los tenistas Mariano Zabaleta, Juan Mónaco, Diego Junquiera y Máximo González... Su padre, Daniel, jugó rugby semiprofesionalmente y trabaja como veterinario, y su madre Patricia es profesora... Tiene una hermana menor, Julieta... Su ídolo de infancia fue Pete Sampras y admira a Marat Safin... Habla español y algo de italiano e inglés... Seguidor del equipo de fútbol Boca Juniors de Argentina y de la Juventus de Italia… Su superficie favorita son las pistas duras… Ganó el Orange Bowl en 14 años en 2002 y jugó su último torneo junior en Roland Garros 2005, donde perdió con Murray en cuartos de final... También fue finalista en los torneos juniors de México y Costa Rica... Dice que si no hubiese sido tenista, habría estudiado arquitectura... Tiene una marca de 4-1 en singles de Copa Davis en cuatro enfrentamientos... Después de ganar su primer título ATP en Stuttgart en julio del 2008, le regaló el auto deportivo CLK Mercedes-Benz a su hermana Julieta... Su preparador físico es Ignacio Menchón y su entrenador es el ex tenista profesional ATP Franco Davín (desde marzo del 2008).

2009 -- The Argentine was youngest player in year-end Top 10, finishing a personal-best No. 5…The top South American on ATP World Tour captured three titles, including his first Grand Slam crown, and reached his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final…Closed season by reaching final at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London (l. to Davydenko)…In January he captured his fifth career ATP World Tour title in Auckland (d. Querrey) and followed with his second straight Grand Slam QF at Australian Open (l. to Federer)….Advanced to back-to-back QF in San Jose and Memphis…In March, reached QF at Indian Wells*, falling to No. 1 and eventual champion Nadal…He then advanced to SF in Miami* where he posted three-set win over No. 1 Nadal in QF…Trailed 0-3 (two breaks) in third set before winning in a tie-break for his first win in five meetings… Afterwards, moved from No. 7 to a career-high No. 5 on Apr. 6…

On clay, turned in QF effort in Rome* (l. to Djokovic) and followed with SF in Madrid* where he beat No. 3-ranked Murray in QF before losing to eventual champ Federer…He then reached his first Grand Slam SF at Roland Garros where he beat No. 9 Tsonga in 4th RD before losing to eventual champion Federer in five sets…The Argentine suffered a second-round loss to Hewitt at Wimbledon but bounced back by winning both his singles rubbers in Argentina’s Davis Cup QF loss…In August he defended his title in Washington, D.C (d. Roddick)…The following week in Montreal* he defeated World No. 2 Nadal and No. 5 Roddick to reach his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final, losing in three sets to No. 3 Murray…

At US Open he captured title with back-to-back wins over No. 3 Nadal in SF and No. 1 Federer in final in five sets (rallying from 1-2 set deficit)…Became first player to beat Nadal and Federer in a Grand Slam tournament and first Argentine to capture US Open since Vilas in 1977…In November, reached QF in Paris*, saving seven match points in 3rd RD win over F. Gonzalez…Closed campaign by reaching final at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London by posting round-robin wins over Verdasco and Federer, Soderling in SF before falling to Davydenko in final…Was second on ATP World Tour with 14 match wins after losing first set during season (behind Stepanek’s 15)...Compiled marks of 41-11 on hard, 12-4 on clay and 1-1 on grass…Went 11-9 vs. Top 10 opponents and earned a career-high $4,753,087.

2008 -- The youngest player in the year-end Top 10 won four titles in five finals...Finished as top Argentine and South American for first time and also helped his country to Davis Cup final (l. to Spain 3-1)...Fell to Lopez in four sets, injuring his right thigh in the match, which kept him out of reverse singles...In first half of season, went 9-8 with his best results a SF in 's-Hertogenbosch (l. to Ferrer) and QF in Munich (l. to El Aynaoui)...Struggled with back problems, retiring twice...After 2nd RD exit at Wimbledon, won 37 of 45 matches, including a 23-match winning streak...

Won first ATP title in Stuttgart (d. Gasquet) and following week won in Kitzbnhel (d. Melzer), both on clay...Moved to hard courts and won back-to-back titles in Los Angeles (d. Roddick) and Washington (d. Troicki) before streak ended with QF loss at US Open (l. to Murray)...Climbed from No. 65 on July 7 to No. 13 on Sept. 8...Helped his country to its third Davis Cup final (1981, 2006) by defeating Russia's No. 5 Davydenko and then Andreev in decisive fifth rubber...Reached Tokyo final (l. to Berdych) to break into Top 10 on Oct. 6...Reached QF at AMS Madrid and SF in Basel...In debut at Tennis Masters Cup went 1-2 in round robin play...Was 27-11 on hard, 15-3 on clay and 4-2 on grass...Played fewest tie-breaks (10-8) in Top 10...Went 5-9 against Top 10 foes.

2007 -- Finished as youngest player in Top 50 at 19 years, 2 months...Won 28 matches and opened season with his first ATP SF in Adelaide (l. to Guccione)...In March, advanced to 4th RD at AMS Miami, posting wins over Bjorkman, No. 18 Baghdatis and No. 17 Youzhny (l. to Nadal)...On grass, reached 2nd RD at Queen's (l. to Nadal), QF at Nottingham (l. to Karlovic) and 2nd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Federer)...

During summer hard court circuit, advanced to 3rd RD at AMS Cincinnati (d. Canas, l. to Moya) and at US Open (l. to Djokovic)...In October at AMS Madrid, defeated No. 9 Robredo for first Top 10 win en route to 3rd RD (l. to eventual champ Nalbandian)...Went 1-9 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 21-19 on hard, 4-3 on grass and 1-2 on clay.

2006 -- Youngest player to finish in Top 100 during year at 18 years, 2 months...Made his debut on ATP circuit and posted two ATP QF...Also won a pair of Challenger titles at Aguascalientes (d. Roitman)and Segovia (d. Verdasco in QF, Becker in F) to compile a 17-10 Challenger mark... Qualified five times into main draw of ATP level tournaments...

Made ATP debut in Vina del Mar and reached 2nd RD with win over Portas (l. to Gonzalez)...Qualified in his Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros, falling in 1st RD to former champion Ferrero in four sets...In July, reached 3rd RD in Stuttgart as a qualifier (l. to Mayer) and reached first ATP QF in Umag (l. to Wawrinka)...In Mumbai, defeated Moya but retired in next match against Delgado with illness...Finished year with 3rd RD at Tokyo (l. to Henman) and QF in Basel (l. to Gonzalez)...In doubles, won title at Aquascalientes Challenger and reached final at Biella (both w/Vassallo Arguello)...

2005 -- Finished as youngest player in year-end Top 200...Raised his ranking by over 900 positions...Won three Futures titles and posted a 23-10 record at the Challenger level...Reached first career final at Mexican Futures in Merimbau Naucalpan (l. to Madjaovski)...In April, won back-to-back clay court Futures titles in Santiago with wins over Aguilar and Alves...

Later that month, won Buenos Aires Futures (d. Patriarca)...In July, stepped up to Challengers, and promptly reached SF on clay at Reggio Emilia (l. to Vassalo)...In third career Challenger, reached final at Campos do Jordao (d. Capdeville, Daniel, l. to Sa)...Followed with SF at Belo Horizonte (l. to Pless)...Late in year, won his first career Challenger title in Montevideo (d. Pashanski)...Won doubles title at Guayquil (w/Marin)... Finalist at Belo Horizonte (w/Gonzalez)...

2004 -- Posted a 7-8 Futures record, with the best result being a QF at Campinas, Brazil...

2010

Began season at Australian Open, his fourth straight appearance, where he was named fourth seed… His 64 67 57 63 108 win over Blake in 2nd RD was the longest in total games (62) in championship. He beat Florian Mayer 63 06 64 75 in 3rd RD, marking the first time ever at a Grand Slam he had been bageled in a set but gone on to win the match, and just the second time in his tour-level career that this has happened (after 2007 Adelaide, d. Mathieu 76 06 63 in round robin)... Fell to No. 14 Cilic 57 64 75 57 63 in 4th RD.