SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
front
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale

Popular This Week

Casper Ruud and Maria Galligana Are Engaged Casper Ruud and Maria Galligana Are Engaged
Love Match: Madison Keys Marries Bjorn Fratangelo Love Match: Madison Keys Marries Bjorn Fratangelo
WTA Awards Nominees for 2024 WTA Awards Nominees for 2024
ITF President Haggerty: Davis Cup Won't Return to Best-of-Five ITF President Haggerty: Davis Cup Won't Return to Be...
ATP Award Nominees Announced for 2024 ATP Award Nominees Announced for 2024
Sinner's Extraordinary 2024, By the Numbers Sinner's Extraordinary 2024, By the Numbers
Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision
Net Notes - A Tennis Now Blog

Net Posts

Industry Insider - A Tennis Now Blog

Industry Insider

Second Serve - A Tennis Now Blog

Second Serve

 

Del Potro Working with Vallverdu at Wimbledon


Juan Martin del Potro will make his first appearance at a Grand Slam since the 2014 Australian Open at Wimbledon next week, and he’ll have a new coach in his corner when he does.

More: Wimbledon Seeds Announced

The 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist will work with Dani Vallverdu, former coach of Andy Murray, and more recently Tomas Berdych.

“We know each other since many years ago and he’s helping me this week,” Del Potro said. “I will try to learn something about him. We will see what will happen in the future, but he’s a friend of mine, we have a great relationship and he’s a very nice coach as well.”

Vallverdu, who worked with Berdych since the beginning of 2015, was sacked by the Czech after Berdych suffered a double-bagel loss to David Goffin in Rome.

In Vallverdu’s defense, Berdych did get off to a fantastic start with Vallverdu as his coach in 2015. He reached the quarterfinals or better in his first nine tournaments an even snapped a 17-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal when he defeated the Spaniard in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.

Del Potro hopes that he can continue to progress his game at Wimbledon, and if things go well with the Venezuelan-born Vallverdu, there could be a long-term agreement.

For now, Del Potro is thrilled to be back at Wimbledon, and healthy.

“I’m so glad to be here after three years,” Del Potro told Wimbledon.com. “I had great memories from this court, when I won the Bronze medal, when I made semifinals against Djokovic. It’s a great event and I missed it a lot when I was injured. Now I have the chance to play again so it’s amazing. Amazing tournament for me, amazing sensations again—I’m so happy to be here.”

Del Potro has taken a patient approach to the tour after returning from multiple surgeries on his left wrist. He has compiled an 11-7 record with two semifinals since returning to the tour in February, but more important, he has carefully protected his wrist, opting to slowly bring it up to speed rather than risk further injury.

Though the 27-year-old has been reluctant to hit his two-handed backhand, his decision to do so appears to be a byproduct of a cautious plan of rehabilitation, rather than any residual pain. This is a player that has had surgeries on both wrists and missed over two years on the tour due to injury. He has stated time and time again that he needs time to regain strength and flexibility in the wrist. Rather than push it beyond its limits, Del Potro has opted to play it safe.

“I’m feeling good,” Del Potro said. “I’m getting better day by day and my tennis keeps improving every week. The wrist’s response is what I expect for this season. It’s nothing dangerous for my body now and I’m looking forward to the future. If I finish healthy this season then I will be competitive and dangerous for the next year for sure.”

Posted: