Tennis
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Former U.S. Open champion Juan Del Potro hasn’t officially retired at the age 35. But he’s getting back into tennis whether the 6-foot-6 Argentine strikes another ball in a professional tournament or not.
Del Potro, who won 22 ATP events despite battling a series of injuries, is opening The Del Potro Tennis Academyin Boynton Beach at the Indian Springs County Club. A grand opening is set for September.
Del Potro, who goes back and forth from his residences in Miami and Argentina, had been searching for the right academy spot for the past two years.
The last tournament he played came on Feb. 8, 2022 in his hometown of Tandil. He hasn’t played since because of kneecap issues that have required four surgeries.
“It was the perfect location in terms of accessibility to different airports,’’ Academy spokesperson Alicia Civita said. “The area is still growing. Indian Springs has 26 courts that weren’t being used to their fullest potential.’’
Of the 26 courts, six will be hardcourts, the rest clay.
“He loves the area,’’ Civita said. “He knows very well Palm Beach County. He has many friends in the area. He loved playing the Delray Open’’ where he won in 2011 and also played in 2016-2019.
Del Potro, who is back in Argentina, said in a statement that he’s thrilled to be opening his academy:
“This academy is a dream come true, allowing me to give back to the sport that has given me so much. I am committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where young athletes can thrive and become great tennis players and individuals.’’
Widely regarded as one of the most charismatic gentlemen on tour, Del Potro is the second-most-famous Argentine living in South Florida after Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami.
Del Potro defeated Roger Federer in 2009 U.S. Open
Del Potro is the last male from “The Americas’’ to win a Grand Slam event – taking out Roger Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open to stop the Swiss Maestro’s string of five straight Flushing titles.
Federer, who never won the Open again, and Del Potro are friends. Federer has ties to Palm Beach County as his agent, Tony Godsick, lives in Delray Beach.
One of several aims in De Potro’s new venture is getting North and South America back on the tennis map as the sport is dominated at the top by Europeans. The last player from the USA to win a major is Andy Roddick, who captured the 2003 U.S. Open.
In another disgrace to U.S. tennis, no American male got past the fourth round of the recently concluded French Open.
“He wants to help create the next champion from this side of the Atlantic,’’ Civita said.
Del Potro had four surgeries on his wrist earlier in his career, but the last injury to knock him off the tour occurred when he broke his kneecap after a fall at the Shanghai Masters in 2018.
“He’s ready now to be fully involved in the tennis world,’’ Civita said. “Being close to tennis activities had been hard for him because of his injuries. He wants to do it by giving back. He has a wealth of experience not only in the court but outside the court that he feels this urge to share it. He wants to give to the sport by helping generate the new generation of tennis players, particularly in the Americas.’’
A host of Argentines live in South Florida as does a bevy of tour players such as Coco Gauff (Delray Beach), Jessica Pegula (Boca Raton) Tommy Paul (Boca Raton), Frances Tiafoe (Boca Raton), Taylor Fritz (Miami), Tommy Paul (Boca Raton) and Reilly Opelka (Delray Beach), to name a few. The Williams sisters have been in Palm Beach Gardens since they were teenagers.
Academy for elite tennis players but intensely local
But while Del Potro wants his academy to be for elite and wants to recruit from South America, he also wants it to be intensely local. His goal is to pump interest in a sport that may be stunted by the American growth of pickleball.
“He wants to run the academy with a heart,’’ Civita said. “It’s not only for him making money from tennis, he wants to give tennis back. We have a robust community regarding going to local schools.’’
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Del Potro hopes to provide online education, after-school programs, and medical and psychological support to students.
The tall Argentine who once had the sport’s most penetrating forehand still is rehabbing his knee.
“He’s obsessed with tennis,’’ Civita said. “So he still doesn’t want to think about the idea of retiring. He may do it this year, I don’t know. But he’s still working on his knee. The wrist was solved.’’
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