For the first time in years, Juan Martín del Potro has acknowledged the possibility of returning to the ATP Tour—but not as a player. That chapter officially closed last December during his farewell match, where he was joined by tennis legends like Gabriela Sabatini and Novak Djokovic.
Interestingly, it’s Djokovic who could entice del Potro back to the circuit. In a recent interview, the Argentine was asked about becoming the coach of the former World No. 1, and his response was surprisingly open.
“To be a coach, you need to dedicate yourself 100% and travel the world again. I did that for 20 years, and I’m tired. That said, if Novak asked me to work with him, it would make me very happy,” del Potro told Olympics. “I couldn’t say no to him, but I don’t think it will happen. The door isn’t 100% closed, but I believe my time as a coach will come later”.
Currently, Djokovic’s primary coach is Andy Murray, a retired tennis icon. This marks an intriguing difference between the two legends, who are both 37 years old and faced each other on some of the biggest stages in tennis history.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia and his coach Andy Murray working on his serve during a practice session at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Del Potro believes Djokovic can win another Grand Slam
With 24 Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most major wins in tennis history, ahead of Rafael Nadal’s 22 and Roger Federer’s 20. According to del Potro, that tally could still grow.
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“I think winning a Grand Slam is something personal for him. He can win more. In terms of tennis, he’s the best. He has so much experience. If he stays physically fit, he can handle it all and succeed,” del Potro said. “It would be great for tennis if he could win another, like when he claimed Olympic gold in Paris. As long as he’s active, he’s the best”.
Djokovic’s most recent Grand Slam victory came at the 2023 US Open, a year in which he captured three of the four major titles, falling short only at Wimbledon. Since then, younger stars like Jannik Sinner (23) and Carlos Alcaraz (21) have claimed the subsequent five majors, though Djokovic reached the final of the 2024 Australian Open, a tournament he’s won a record 10 times.
