The Argentinian won the title back in 2009. He told the Associated Press in an interview that he is hoping for a farewell match in a Grand Slam, should his knee permit it.
“My goal is to be ready to play an official match in the tournament. I don’t know if I will be 100% or not but, at least, if my last tennis match ever has to be this year, I want (it to be) … at the U.S. Open,” said the 34-year-old.
“I will work hard for the last time, maybe, in my career, and then you never know. God will decide if I’m ready or not.”
Tournament director Stacey Allaster believes in the star power that Del Potro has.
“Juan MartĂn is a true favorite of U.S. Open fans,” Allaster said.
“He is a tremendous, yet gracious, competitor and we would be thrilled for this former U.S. Open champion to join us at this year’s tournament.”
Aside from his 2009 US Open win, del Potro also made it to the semifinals of Wimbledon and the French Open. He was also twice in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
In 2018, he had a resurgent year and made it to Number 3 in the World Rankings.
From 2019 to 2021, he suffered from injuries and he spent most of 2022 on other interests. It will be exciting to see if he does become fit enough to play in the US Open one more time.