"My daily life isn't what I would like it to be": Juan Martin del Potro admits struggles in post-retirement life

Former Argentina tennis star Juan Martin del Potro has opened up about how difficult it has been for him to live his life after retiring from the sport because of a fitness concern. The 36-year-old was once regarded as one of the best players in the world. He climbed as high as third in the ATP Rankings and also lifted a Grand Slam in 2009 after defeating 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.

Del Potro suffered a serious knee injury in 2018 from which he never managed to recover completely. He had a more than six surgeries to the same knee but never managed to regain his former fitness. Del Potro ended up retiring from the sport in 2022 after winning 22 titles at the highest level.

The former world number three has been recently quoted in a report by the English media outlet Daily Express, where he talked about how difficult his life has been because of the knee injury he suffered in 2018. Del Potro stated that because of having so many surgeries and other procedures, he cannot play any sport after retiring from professional tennis. He also stated that he has to take six or seven tablets every day to cater to different problems.

“My daily life isn't what I would like it to be,” he said. “I can't play football, I can't play padel. It's terrible. They took me the chance to do what I loved the most, which was to play tennis,” he continued. It's very tough. There are moments where I have no more strength. I'm not indestructible. I have good things, bad things but most of the times I have to fake it and put on a good face, but many times I feel terrible. Every day when I wake up I have to take six or seven pils. Gastric protectors, anti-inflammatories, one for anxiety. Then the pils made me gain weight so they told me to stop eating some things.”