NEW YORK—The wrist watch occurs each time Juan Martin del Potro takes the court.
After enduring four wrist surgeries, including three surgeries on his left wrist, del Potro says he's now playing largely pain-free now and reports "no big problems" with the wrist.
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"I was close to retired before my third surgery, but after that I always believe on myself to come back on tennis," del Potro said after moving past Dominic Thiem into the US Open quarterfinals. "When I made the decision to do the surgery, I always believe I will come back, for sure. And after that, everything change to myself, and now I'm here.
"I'm playing free. I don't have any big problems in my wrist, and that's important. Sometimes bother me a little bit, but I can deal with that. I'm still improving my backhand."
Returning to tournament tennis for the first time in nearly a year in Delray Beach in February, del Potro played almost exclusively one-handed slice backhands rather than his trademark two-hander to protect his surgically-repaired left wrist.
The former world No. 4 withdrew from Rome and Roland Garros because of pain in his wrist.
Del Potro believes his backhand volley has improved by hitting so many one-handed backhands, but still dreams of the day he can strike his two-hander at full force.
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"I would like to improve my backhand as well now," del Potro said. "I think with that change, my slices, my volley is improve a lot, because normally I didn't use that shot and now I'm using very often.
"But in the future, if can combine slices and volleys with my old backhand would be more dangerous for my game and I will be comfortable with all the weapons."
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