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Jim Courier Says a Healthy Juan Martín del Potro Would Have Changed Tennis History

His appraisal renews a what‑if view of the 2009 US Open winner as a fourth force in the Big Three era.

Overview

  • Courier, speaking on Tennis Channel’s Beyond The Numbers, argued that injuries kept del Potro from reshaping an era ruled by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
  • He praised del Potro’s power game, calling out a thunderous serve and forehand that let him go toe to toe with the sport’s dominant quartet.
  • Del Potro’s prime achievements include the 2009 US Open, a career‑high ranking of No. 3 in 2018, the 2018 Indian Wells Masters title, Argentina’s 2016 Davis Cup win, two Olympic medals and 22 ATP titles.
  • Recurring wrist problems after 2009 and later knee injuries, including a fractured kneecap in 2018 and a slip at Queen’s in 2019, triggered long layoffs and repeated comebacks.
  • He played a farewell match in 2022 near Buenos Aires and formally retired in 2025, with peers such as coach Mark Knowles lauding his character and recalling the respect he commanded on tour.