Juan Martin del Potro asked for “easier questions” at the Rio Open after being unhappy with those posed to him in Brazil.
The iconic Argentine called time on his career in December, playing a final farewell exhibition against Novak Djokovic, but jetted to Rio de Janeiro to be part of the festivities.
Del Potro will award the trophy to the ATP 500 Brazilian champion on Sunday and held a press conference, with reporters invited to ask about the tournament and the 36-year-old’s career.
However, the majority of the conversation was dominated by Jannik Sinner’s doping case, for which he received a three-month suspension, and Chile’s Davis Cup controversy.
The draw for the Davis Cup play-offs was postponed to allow for an investigation to proceed into the ending of Chile’s tie with Belgium.
Chile’s Cristian Garin refused to continue playing after being hit to the floor by his opponent, who was on the verge of victory, before bruising Garin and injuring his eye. He refused to play and conceded, with the Chilean Tennis Federation denouncing the result and calling it an “injustice”.
Del Porto did not want to delve too deeply into either topic, jokingly telling South American journalists: “Ask me easier questions, guys.”
He did, however, concede that all those involved with Sinner’s case with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have suffered a loss of credibility.
“I believe that everyone has lost a bit of credibility in this case,” Del Potro said. “The ATP, the anti-doping systems, Sinner’s image, and the fans. Nobody comes away with anything positive from this situation.”
He continued to reflect on his first few months of retirement, explaining: “After the farewell with Djokovic in December, I felt that I was no longer a professional player, that a new chapter had begun. Before that day, I had always had a slight hope of returning. Tennis was my life. At this moment, I try to understand that I am a former tennis player.
“What do I need to be completely happy? To fully heal my knee. As of today, I feel pain every day.”
Onto more positive topics, as requested by Del Potro, he spoke with an affinity for his time at the Brazilian tournament and their future star Joao Fonseca.
“Rio is a very special place for me,” he said. “I played the [Olympic] Games here in 2016, and I’m very happy to be here. That week was one of the happiest in my career. The first round against Djokovic, the semi-finals against Rafa [Nadal]… the medal.
“We broke the Argentina-Brazil rivalry. That football rivalry never happened to me. The people in Brazil like me a lot, just like Argentinians do with Joao Fonseca.
“It’s spectacular. He has a very powerful game, with a lot of potential. The speed, his evolution, the way he is improving… he needs emotional support. In Brazil, as in Argentina, people are quick to rate you as the best, but equally quick to say you are the worst. It’s very tough.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk