"We all need to move on in life" - Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic share heartfelt messages after Juan Martin del Potro's farewell match

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic shared heartfelt messages for Juan Martin del Potro after his farewell match. The Argentine played his final match of his career against Djokovic.

Del Potro finished his career with one Grand Slam title to his name—the 2009 US Open, where he defeated Federer in the final. He secured two Olympic medals for Argentina: he won a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics by defeating Novak Djokovic and a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also helped Argentina win the Davis Cup in 2016 by helping his team defeat Croatia in the final.

Juan Martin del Potro played his last ATP Tour match in 2022 at the Argentina Open before being sidelined by injuries. Recently, he played in an exhibition match titled “The Final Challenge” against Novak Djokovic in Buenos Aires, Argentina, serving as a farewell match.

After the match, Roger Federer and Djokovic had some emotional words for Juan Martin Del Potro. A video message from the 20-time Grand Slam champion was shown in the stadium, where he praised Del Potro as a "special player" and a "special person" in the tennis world. He also extended his best wishes for the Argentine in his post-retirement life.

“It’s Roger here. I hope you are doing well . Listen, I know that this is a special moment for you . You were a special player and a special person for the tennis world . I hope that the moment right now is a one that you’re celebrating, it shouldn’t be sad. I hope it’s not like that . We all need to move on in life and I think the best is yet to come for you Juan Martin,” Federer said.

Roger Federer also said that playing against Juan Martin del Potro on the tour was an honor for him.

“I hope that the people in Argentina are celebrating you right now and that with Novak, you are having a special moment. I wish I could be there of course in person but just know I’m thinking of you and wish you only the very very best. It’s been an absolute honour and a special treat for me to play against you on the court and just spend time together . So I wish you all the very best . I hope I see you in the future, I’m sure very soon and enjoy the moment,” he added.

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic described Juan Martin del Potro "great person," a "great player" and a "great rival" against whom he has played for a very long time.

“Like everyone else here in this stadium today, I was very excited to play with my friend, with a great person, a great player, and a great rival. It was also very very special for me because I have spent a lot of time with Juan Martin. I think, I saw him for the first time, it was in France we were 11 years, 12 years,” Djokovic said [translated from Spanish].

The Serb added :

“I think that in the last months but also years I feel Juan Martin much much more close to me from my heart because when you play with Juan Martin always but it's a little different when you have to play against him on the biggest court in the world.”

Djokovic commended Juan Martin Del Potro for his "professionalism" and the "respect" he showed towards his opponents. He also said that the former World No.3's "greatest victory" in life is being a "wonderful person."

“Juan Martin is the person who maintains professionalism but always has respect. I think that Juan Martin, you have been an example for all of us, his greatest victory in life is that he is a wonderful person,” Novak Djokovic said.

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Juan Martin del Potro's head-to-head record against Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic

Juan Martin del Potro in 2019 [Image Source: Getty Images]

Juan Martin del Potro faced Roger Federer 25 times on the ATP Tour and emerged victorious in seven of those matches. Del Potro faced Federer seven times on the Grand Slam stage and won only two times, with both the wins coming at the US Open.

The first win came in the 2009 final, where the former World No.3 secured the title after the match ended 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2. The Argentine then triumphed over Federer again in the quarterfinal of the 2017 US Open, with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4.

Their last recent encounter on the ATP Tour was in the final of the 2018 Indian Wells Masters, where Juan Martin del Potro emerged victorious with a score of 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(2)

On the other hand, Del Potro has faced Novak Djokovic 20 times on the ATP Tour, winning only four of those matches. They met five times at Grand Slam events with the Serb winning each time.

Their most recent encounter on the ATP Tour was in the quarterfinal of the 2019 Italian Open, where Djokovic defeated Juan Martin Del Potro with a score of 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.