Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro have had many iconic tussles across the ATP circuit. The duo played each other 20 times, with the Serb finishing the head-to-head with a 16-4 record.
On Wednesday (22nd August), the former and current US Open champions took to Arthur Ashe Stadium for a few training sessions. While hitting, Djokovic and Del Potro recapped some of the iconic matches they have played.
Was winning the gold medal your greatest achievement?Juan Martin del Potro asked (as reported by ESPN)
Novak Djokovic had a witty reply.
My greatest success ever was beating Juan Martin del Potro in the final of US Open in 2018.Novak Djokovic replied
Del Potro has always been the man to stop Djokovic at the Olympic Games. The Argentine first denied the Serb his second successive bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
My biggest success was beating you in Rio.Juan Martin del Potro said
And in London! Delpo is my nemesis at the Olympic Games. He’s been my slayer.Novak Djokovic replied
Later, Del Potro beat him in the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, Djokovic can now look back at those defeats with a smile, having finally won the Olympic Singles Gold medal in Paris last month.
Novak Djokovic’s US Open legacy
Serbian legend Novak Djokovic returns to the US Open this week in an attempt to defend his title. The Serbian won his 24th Grand Slam last year in New York by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Djokovic has a rich history at the US Open ever since he broke through on the ATP Tour. The 37-year-old’s first final came in 2007, where he lost to Roger Federer.
Despite losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2010 final, Djokovic reversed the result in the 2011 final to claim his first US Open title. After consecutive runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2013, the Belgrade native returned to the winner’s circle in Flushing Meadows by beating Federer to win the 2015 US Open.
Three years later, he won his third US Open title by defeating Juan Martin Del Potro in the final. In 2021, he was attempting to win the Calendar Year Grand Slam but fell short against Medvedev in the final. However, he reversed the result against the Russian in the 2023 final to claim his fourth US Open title.
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