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Why Juan Martin del Potro is a top 10 player in men’s tennis

By Harry Floyd

Aug 13, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) during the match against Rafael Nadal (ESP) during the men
Aug 13, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) during the match against Rafael Nadal (ESP) during the men /
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Juan Martin del Potro is the ATP World Tour’s comeback player of the year. After a strong performance in Rio, he elevated his game to a new level and made a case for why he can rise in the rankings in 2017.

Juan Martin del Potro is a true contender in men’s tennis. He will threaten the best in the world on his upcoming 2017 ATP World Tour.

Del Potro is a Grand Slam winner, having defeated Roger Federer for a title at the 2009 US Open. If he remains healthy, there is no doubt that the Argentine will rise in the rankings next season.

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His season began trending in the right direction after a strong performance at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio. Del Potro found himself face-to-face with the now world number 1 Andy Murray for a shot at the gold medal.

The thrilling 4 set match in Rio saw 14 breaks of serve and ultimately proved Murray victorious, but was a significant performance by Del Potro. It capped off an Olympics run that began with him defeating Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in the first round.

Del Potro has had a series of wrist injuries over the years.

A healthy 28-year-old Del Potro belongs in the top 10 rankings on the ATP World Tour. He will enter the 2017 Australian Open unranked at the tournament as he is currently number 38 in the world. The seeding will mean nothing to him.

The Argentine played a pivotal role in his country’s 2016 Davis Cup win.

He claimed a title in Stockholm in October. Shades of an early career Juan Martin del Potro are being revealed when it matters most.

He will be a player for the big four and other top players in men’s tennis to look out for next season.

With 19 career singles titles and a win percentage over 70 percent, Del Potro is a threat in any match he plays in. He cannot be ignored on any surface. The Argentine has versatile play and displays confidence on the court. If he can remain healthy, Del Potro will continue to ignore talk of retirement as he still has plenty to play for.

The 2017 field in men’s tennis will likely be far more star-studded than ever before. Tennis fans and players alike are expecting to see a healthy Federer and Rafael Nadal return to play. Them, along with Murray and Djokovic will not make a run by Del Potro any easier. It will, however, make his successes in 2017 that much more impressive.

Next: Djokovic-Murray 2016 Matches: RANKED

Check back for updates on the men’s ATP World Tour, the women’s WTA Tour, and other tennis news from Lob and Smash.

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