Juan Martin Del Potro: Winning A Medal In London Was Like Winning The US Open
- 8 Comments
Juan Martin Del Potro sounds like a man who’s still living off the high from his bronze medal effort earlier this month at the 2012 Olympic games in London. Del Potro beat Novak Djokovic 11 days ago to earn Argentina’s then only medal – they finished with four.
An exhausted Del Potro still played the Rogers Cup but after an early loss flew back to Argentina to celebrate his achievement. Today, after returning to the Midwest Del Potro spoke about the experience.
“Well, the Grand Slam are the biggest tournaments for us,” Del Potro said following a straight set win over Tommy Haas. “But the Olympics was special moments for me and for the rest of the players. Win a medal in London was big like win the US Open. Maybe less or more, but in that level, you know, and for the country means too big, you know. The medals, I was the first one for Argentina. I am the only player who win a medal in singles for Argentina, so that’s mean many big things for me.”
Del Potro admitted he was very sad after losing that unbelievable 19-17 final set to Roger Federer in the Olympic semifinals.
“I was really, really sad after loss against Roger, but my parents, friends, and my team helped me a lot to open my eyes, you know, and to fight in the last match against Djokovic,” he said. “I really feel the support from my country. All the people was behind me and help me to get the energy to best I can against Djokovic.”
The 6-foot-6 Del Potro won the US Open in 2009 stunning Federer in a five set thriller. The 23-year-old revealed that his still has the racquet that won him his first Grand Slam in his bag today.
“I have here, but I’m not using that racquet,” Del Potro said. “I should have used it against Federer in the Olympics.”
Del Potro will play Viktor Troicki tomorrow in the third round at the Cincinnati Masters 1000.
You Might Like:
Juan Martin Del Potro Will Return To Argentina To Celebrate Bronze Before Cincinnati
Roger Federer Wins Epic Olympic Marathon, Will Play For Gold On Sunday; Withdraws From Toronto
Juan Martin Del Potro Was Robbed Today At A Paris Train Station
Del Potro Returns To ATP Finals For Fifth Time
ATP Injuries Mount: Juan Martin Del Potro Withdraws From Paris