thetennisreview

Juan Martin del Potro makes his long-awaited comeback from injury next week in Delray Beach. The Tennis Review gives you its del Potro comeback fan survival guide as his followers brace themselves for yet another return to the tour.

Have no expectations and enjoy the ride

del Potro fans know better than to have high expectations when it comes to comebacks so this is a word of warning for only recent fans.

The Argentine came back from wrist surgery twice last season- in Sydney and in Miami. In Sydney, he beat top seed Fabio Fognini before going down to Mikhail Kukushkin in the quarters, but despite the promising results, he looked very tentative on his backhand, and was forced to take another break from the tour until Miami where he was beaten by Vasek Pospisil in the first round.

del Potro has not played since.

Keeping that in mind, del Potro fans would be wise to just sit back and enjoy watching him on the court rather than getting their hopes up of a full time return to the tour, or even a part time one.

Even if del Potro’s comeback this time round is short, it will most likely be sweet. del Potro likes hard courts in hot conditions and likes Delray beach, too- he has played there once, and won the title in 2011.

Incidentally, that title was his first one after he won the US Open ’09 and a milestone on his road back to the top ten.

Take heart in how long it took him to decide to come back

Back last Summer, rumors did the rounds that del Potro would be back September time. That did not happen, but that could be a good sign.

This is not del Potro’s first serious injury. The Argentine injured his left wrist a few months after winning the US Open ’09, but came back too early to the tour at the Australian Open ’10, a comeback that harmed his career in the long term.

del Potro has been burned when it comes to come backs. His hesitancy this time round, and players who win slams aged 20 are pretty good learners, is an encouraging sign.

As is his regular communication with his fans. Tweets such as this:

Entrenamiento de hoy a 40ºC. Buen fin de semana!!
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Today’s practice under 104ºF. Have a great weekend!! pic.twitter.com/FYbNpa5wjs

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) January 22, 2016

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and:

Parte del entrenamiento de esta mañana. // Practising this morning.💪 pic.twitter.com/GN75wB9yTH

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) January 7, 2016

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show how hard he has been working to return to the tour, so he won’t be coming back unprepared, while tweets such as:

Aunque la cima se vea lejos, cada paso me acerca más.
Although the top looks far away, each step brings me closer. pic.twitter.com/arLN35o9u5

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) November 18, 2015

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are a testament to the passion he has for the game, getting back to the top, and his fans.

Remember he is one of only seven active slam champs 

When he returns, del Potro will have the rare claim to be one of only seven active slam champs on the tour (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka and Cilic are the others.) That is some pedigree, and at the fairly young age of 27 on the current ATP Tour on which Cilic, aged 26, is the youngest slam champ, his best years could still be ahead of him.

Enjoy that forehand

One of the best shots on the tour which whatever happens, fans will see at least for one match in 2016. Once del Potro gets into a rhythm, moves his opponent out of position, steps inside the court and then crunches a forehand winner, it will feel like he has never been away.

Words do not do it justice, so enjoy the video below.

Sit back and be charmed

Few players in tennis have the charm of del Potro. Expect plenty of smiles whatever the outcome from a player who gets plenty of love from his fans, and gives it back, and then some.

If this come back does not go well in the long run, and del Potro fans find themselves down in the dumps, a quick look at the smiling Argentine should be just what is needed to lift them back up.