Argentine tennis legend Juan Martín Del Potro will open an academy in South Florida this year, as one of the most prolific non-European players of the century moves on to a new stage of his relationship with the sport following his professional retirement.
The Del Potro Tennis Academy will open its doors in September. Its headquarters will be located at the Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton beach, where "children, teenagers and adults can learn the technical, physical, mental and emotional aspects of tennis" through the star's proprietary training method.
"I am thrilled to open the Del Potro Tennis Academy in South Florida. This academy is a dream come true, allowing me to give back to the sport that has given me so much. I am committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where young athletes can thrive and become great tennis players and individuals," Del Potro said in a press release accompanying the announcement.
"Delpo" is the last non-European player to win a grand slam, a feat he accomplished at just 20 years of age after beating Swiss legend Roger Federer in a five-set thriller. His numerous accolades also include winning 22 ATP titles (among them the 2018 Indian Wells Masters 1000), two Olympic medals (Bronze in London 2012 and Silver in Rio 2016) and leading the Argentine team to its only-ever Davis Cup in 2016. His highest ATP ranking was number 3, a feat he accomplished in August 2018.
The academy will also provide online education, after-school programs and medical and psychological support to students and the community, adds another passage of the release, which also anticipates expansion plans throughout the continent.
"The Academy aims to uphold Del Potro's legacy by fostering an environment of equality, multiculturalism, diversity, and environmental sustainability. Its mission is to develop future tennis champions and well-rounded individuals," the document concludes.
Del Potro played his last tournament in Buenos Aires in 2022, only returning to a professional court to play a last match before a home crowd. His prolific career was marked by injuries in his wrists and knee, with the latter preventing him from continuing playing in the tour following hard falls in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
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