Juan Martin del Potro faces another major surgery after fracturing his right kneecap for the second time in eight months.
Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion from Argentina, slipped near the net in a first-round match Wednesday at a grass-court event at Queen’s Club in London. Though del Potro went on to beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov, he withdrew from the event with pain and swelling in his right knee.
Del Potro, 30, sat out four months last fall and winter after fracturing the same patella at the Shanghai Masters in October. That was particularly crushing as it came after the most consistent run of Grand Slam tennis of his career, making the semifinals of three of the previous five majors, including the 2018 U.S. Open final. Last year was his first playing all four Grand Slams since 2012.
Del Potro, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2016 Olympic silver medalist, has also undergone left and right wrist surgeries. He contemplated retiring in 2015, during a two-year stretch where he played just two tournaments due to injuries.
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