"I don't have enough words to thank you": Juan Martin del Potro thanks Novak Djokovic for making his farewell match 'unforgettable'

Former Argentinian tennis player Juan Martin del Potro has thanked Serbia’s Novak Djokovic for his special appearance in his final match. The 36-year-old retired recently after struggling with fitness concerns towards the latter stages of his career.

Del Potro, in his final appearance, which was an exhibition match, faced Serbia’s Djokovic in Argentina. The Tandil-born star, in a post on his official account on the social media platform, thanked the former world number one for doing everything he did in the recent past.

“Dear Nole, I don't have enough words to thank you for everything you did for me since that day at dinner in Miami, when you accepted this crazy idea of ​​being part of my farewell in Argentina, despite your difficult season,” he wrote in a post on the social media platform X—previously known as Twitter. “From that moment until the day you left my country, you showed a generosity that I will never forget. I am eternally grateful to you, Charly, Mark and your entire team for being available in every detail, in every need. You understood and comprehended the situation I was in, and you were the best teammate, on and off the court, to make a farewell come true that I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams.

He went on to state that: “Your presence not only made this event unforgettable for me and my family, but it transcended tennis. An entire country was able to enjoy and be moved by you, and it was clear that you are not only the greatest in history in sport, but also in life. Argentina loves you, and we are eternally grateful for the show, the generosity and the dedication you gave to make this day perfect. I feel that something very special was born from all this: a sincere friendship that will last forever. I love you so much, my friend. Thank you for everything, and see you soon.”

Del Potro finished his career with one Grand Slam title which was the US Open in 2009 where he defeated the former world number one Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 3–6, 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–2. Other than that, Del Potro also won a silver and bronze medal for his country in the Olympics. In 2012 London Olympics, he defeated Djokovic in the third-place playoff match in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4. In the 2016, he lost in the gold medal match to former world number one Andy Murray with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.