Juan Martin del Potro to make long-awaited return at Argentina Open in Buenos Aires before playing in Rio

Published 31/01/2022 at 19:51 GMT

Former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro is set to make his return to tennis in February. Del Potro has not played since June 2019 due to a string of injuries and surgeries, but he has received wild cards into clay tournaments in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Del Potro, 33, won the US Open in 2009.

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Juan Martin del Potro will make his long-awaited comeback at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires in February.

The former world No 3, whose career has been blighted by numerous injuries and surgeries, has not played competitively since June 2019.

But he has been on the comeback trail after another knee surgery in 2021 and is now set to return to action in his home country of Argentina.

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Del Porto has been given a wild card to the clay ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires which starts on February 7. He is also set to play the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro on February 14 after getting a wild card.

Del Potro has been training in Argentina with fellow countryman and world No 14 Diego Schwartzman.

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It was reported that his comeback was in doubt after he experienced pain while playing this month.

However, confirmation that he has received wild cards into two tournaments next month suggests he remains on track to return to the court.

Del Potro’s biggest achievement was winning the 2009 US Open, beating Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and Roger Federer in the final.

He also made the US Open final in 2018, losing to Novak Djokovic, along with the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2009 and 2018.

While Del Potro looks set to return, Dominic Thiem will not play at this week's Cordoba Open.

Former world No 3 Thiem has not played since June 2021 due to a wrist injury and has suffered another setback in his recovery.

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