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Juan Martin del Potro knows all too well about injuries. He has endured four wrist surgeries, likely depriving the Argentinian of collecting more than his one grand slam title.
So when opponent Nicolas Almagro -- a former French Open quarterfinalist -- had to retire from their second-round match at Roland Garros with a knee injury, del Potro went above and beyond the norm trying to console his dispirited friend.
Almagro -- who retired against Rafael Nadal in Rome last month with the same issue -- bent over, then fell backwards onto the court at 1-1 in the third set after the players split the first two sets.
Del Potro walked with a weeping Almagro towards the umpire's chair and after the Spaniard officially retired, the two shared a hug.
But that wasn't it. After slamming his water bottle to the clay in frustration, Almagro returned to his chair -- and was joined by del Potro, who hung around and offered words of encouragement to the new dad, whose son was born earlier this year.
"I'm very familiar with injuries," del Potro told reporters. "I know what injuries are all about. Something I don't wish on anyone. So it was sad. I was sad, as well.
"I tried to, I don't know, tried to find good words for that moment. I said to him, 'Try to be calm.' Try to think about his family, his baby.
"And sometimes the heart is first, (before) the tennis match or the tennis life."
Del Potro had his own physical issues in the encounter, and the wrists had nothing to do with it.
Having entered the French Open with shoulder and back complaints, he tweaked his groin versus Almagro and needed to take anti-inflammatory medication.
He was however hopeful of being fit for his much anticipated third-round duel with world No. 1 Andy Murray.
(CNN)
