This is the final part of a series exploring the return of Juan Martin Del Potro Part 1:Del Potro, The Hero of 2016 Part 2: Del Potro, The Hero of 2016 – Part 2

Juan Martin Del Potro had arguably the best tennis story of 2016. When he split with his coach Franco Davin midway through 2015, I was very worried that Delpo would never play tennis again, but thankfully he decided to give it one more try, and without a doubt Delpo is back. Below are what I believe his most important matches of 2016.

Del Potro defeats Denis Kudla at Delray Beach 6-1, 6-4

The anticipation of Delpo’s return could be felt everywhere in the tennis community, and no one knew what to expect, especially since his last attempted return of 2015 went so poorly. All doubts soon vanished, as he won the first 6 points, and raced through the first set. His backhand was poor, but his forehand and serve would push him through to the Semi-Finals of Delray, and with each match his backhand got better. After the match a teary eyed Delpo told reporters how happy he was for playing tennis again, and that he was grateful that he did not quit.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud89jXLuEVM

Del Potro defeats Dominic Thiem at Madrid 7-6(5), 6-3

Delpo’s return to clay was a successful one. Going into the clay season, it was thought that the higher bouncing balls should help Delpo’s backhand, since the wrist movements involved are much less than on lower bouncing courts. This would be Delpo’s first big win of 2016, with Thiem being the match wins leader on the ATP at that point. Delpo was able to craft a gameplan that boiled down to being rock solid off the backhand and very dangerous off the forehand, and this would be just a glimpse of what was to come the rest of the year.

Highlights: https://youtu.be/qgA1Ksl1yYM?t=2m50s

Del Potro defeats Stanislas Wawrinka at Wimbledon 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3

Delpo’s first slam in three years was a milestone in itself, but what he was able to achieve made many people declare that “Delpo is back.” going into the match Delpo was the heavy underdog, but that didn’t make him play out of his comfort zone. Splitting the first two sets, the third set turned to be pivotal and it was then, that his game started to take shape. It wasn’t until the third set that Delpo had hit a groundstroke winner but after his first came many more, and after racing through the tiebreak he was well on his way to the upset.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhYouuBx7jI

Del Potro defeats Novak Djokovic at the Olympics 7-6(5), 7-6(2)

Going into the match it was clear that Delpo had the ability to beat top players on any given day, but beating Djokovic again at the Olympics would require a grand performance. The day did not start off well for Delpo though, because earlier in the day he had been stuck inside an elevator, only to be rescued by his fellow countrymen. Going into the match Djokovic had not lost a completed match on hard courts since losing to Federer in Round Robin stage at the World Tour Finals in 2015, and had won 57 of 63 sets on hard courts since that lost. Delpo would give arguably his best performance of the year, turning his forehand into a weapon that would be regulatted in many countries. after defeating Djokovic in straight sets he gave himself hope for another medal.

Highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdBScamAtts

Del Potro defeats Rafael Nadal at the Olympics 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5)

Backing up his performance against Djokovic would be a tough ask for Delpo, because he would have to do so less than 24 hours after the momentous win, but he did so. Many consider his performances after the Djokovic win even more impressive, and after beating Roberto Bautista Agut, Juan Martin Del Potro would be playing for another Olympic medal. The match had many turns, but Delpo’s fighting spirit would come out on top, after dropping the first set Delpo would be the one who dictated the rallies, and after over three hours of competition Del Potro would earn himself a spot in the gold medal match

Highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-T3Fkkq8-I

Del Potro falls to Andy Murray at the Olympics 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5

Going into the gold medal match the big question would be “Does Delpo have enough energy to compete?” The answer, sadly turned out to be “no” but Delpo would still fight to the very last point. From the start of the match it was clear that Delpo was very tired. Unlike in 2012, the gold medal match was played the day after the Semi-Finals, meaning that Delpo, who played second would not have near the recovery time as Murray, but as Delpo got more tired his forehand became more massive, after falling down 2 sets Delpo would win the third 6-2, and serve to force a fifth set, but at deuce a 34 shot rally, in which Delpo would put every last bit of energy into 5 massive forehands, would drain the last bit of energy he had, and he would lose the last 3 games. But this was not a sad match, this was a match that showed without doubt that Delpo could compete with the best, match after match.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6OM6OxZSY

Del Potro falls to Stanislas Wawrinka at the U.S. Open 7-6(5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Delpo’s 2016 U.S. Open wasn’t as flashy as his Olympics, but it was as impressive. Reaching his first Slam Quarterfinal since 2013 Wimbledon he was able to score wins over a fellow countrymen, the top ranked American, Ferrer (who had given him substantial difficulties in the past), and Thiem. Heading into the Wawrinka match he had set expectations low by saying that he was not prepared to play as much tennis as he had been playing. The match itself was not too impressive, as Delpo was clearly fatigued from the last several weeks, and losing to what would be the eventual champion is not a bad result. What set this match apart though, was before Wawrinka served for the match the crowd would start chanting for Delpo, bringing him and many others to tears. While this match will not be remembered for the quality of tennis, it may have been the emotional high point of the entire tennis season.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvdd6HHHZNA

Del Potro defeats Andy Murray in Davis Cup Semi-Finals 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4

Del Potro’s next match was one of his most satisfying. Many Delpo fans, and others in the tennis community had thought that Delpo, if given time to rest could have won the gold in Rio. The match was highly competitive in each set, and many games of the games had multiple deuce points. After over five hours showed that he could beat Murray in a best of five match, and this turned out to be Murray’s last lost of the season. The win would end up putting Argentina in another Davis Cup Final, and Delpo would have the opportunity to cap the season on a very high note.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj6Qgcqedlo

Del Potro defeats Jack Sock in Stockholm 7-5, 6-1

The road back for Delpo was a long one, but after The Olympics it was clear that not only could he win when facing the very best in the world, but he could also sustain a solid level throughout a tournament. It was a matter of “when” not “If” he would be a tournament champion again, and it turned out to be very soon. When he entered just his 12th tournament of the season, he was one of the favorites, after all he had beaten each of the top 4 in the world at the time in just the previous few weeks. He continued his solid base level of play that he showed since Madrid, and won the tournament without dropping a set.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US4rRL7u47g

10 Del Potro defeat Marin Cilic 6-7(4), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3

Delpo’s last match of the season came with the weight of a nation. Argentina was looking to win its first ever Davis Cup crown, but they found themselves down 2-1 in the Davis Cup Final. The match that swung the momentum of the tie was the perfect analogy to the comeback of Juan Martin Del Potro. He had dropped the first two sets to Cilic, who was playing his absolute best, the points were short, and more often than not Cilc was dictating play. Delpo however continued to fight, and broke Cilic at the last chance in the third set. After that it seemed like the momentum was with Delpo who fairly easily forced a fifth set; but just like his career the match took another turn with Delpo dropping his serve to begin the fifth. Delpo stormed and broke back, and as the set progressed it was clear that there was going to be just one winner. For the first time in his career Delpo came from 2 sets to love down, and in doing so forced a fifth rubber. Delbonis would play the best match of his life to give the Davis Cup to Argentina, capping the perfect ending to Juan Martin Del Potro’s season.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64LSpU0b-Mo

This was the final part of a 3 part series detailing Juan Martin Del Potro’s return to tennis. My name is Dexter and I can be reached on twitter via @mr_dexter_scott