Del Potro pays emotional goodbye to tennis

Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open title

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro paid an emotional goodbye to tennis after a farewell exhibition match against Novak Djokovic in Argentina.

The 36-year-old won his sole major title in 2009 but his career was blighted by injuries.

The Argentine fractured his knee in 2019 - an injury that he says has left him with daily pain - and played in his final tournament in 2022.

But he participated in 'The Last Challenge' in Buenos Aires against long-time rival and good friend Djokovic and about 15,000 watched Del Potro win 6-4 7-5.

Del Potro was in tears several times during the match and shared a long hug with Djokovic at the end.

He then laid his iconic bandana, which he wore throughout his career, on the middle of the net.

"I do not know a person who does not love Juan Martin del Potro," Djokovic said.

"Juan Martin is an example for all of us, and his greatest victory in life is being a wonderful person."

The Parque Roca stadium in Buenos Aires was packed for Del Potro's farewell match

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Gael Monfils featured in a video tribute to the Argentine.

Del Potro beat five-time defending champion Federer to win the US Open in 2009.

He reached the final in New York again in 2018 but lost to Djokovic.

A popular player with a huge forehand, Del Potro won two Olympic medals - bronze in 2012 and silver four years later.

He claimed 22 ATP singles titles in his career and was as high as number three in the world rankings.

However, a wrist injury derailed his career after his US Open victory before he seriously injured his knee at Queen's in 2019.

Del Potro released a video on Instagram last week discussing the long-term impact injuries have had on his body.

"My daily life isn't what I would like it to be. It's very tough. There are moments where I have no more strength," he said.

"I'm not indestructible. I have good things, bad things but most of the time I have to fake it and put on a good face, but many times I feel terrible.

"Since that moment [after surgery in 2019], I was never able to climb stairs without pain.

"I hurts when I drive, it hurts many times when I go to sleep. It's been a never-ending nightmare."

Djokovic and Del Potro met 20 times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 16-4