NEW YORK — Juan Martín Del Potro believes Guillermo Vilas, the greatest player in Latin American tennis, deserves to be officially recognised as a former world No. 1.
“Vilas left his mark on this sport — it would be very beautiful and very well deserved for that to be acknowledged,” said Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, in an interview with CLAY and CNN Chile in New York.
Despite evidence that Vilas reached the top of the rankings in the mid-1970s, the ATP has consistently rejected any possibility of reconstructing the historical record and has so far denied that honour to the most successful Argentine tennis player of all time.
Del Potro, former world No. 3, landed in New York on Wednesday to make his debut in a new role: he is ESPN‘s new tennis analyst. His first day on the job at the network happened to fall on one of the most intense days in recent tennis memory: he was in the commentary booth until 3.30 in the morning during Ben Shelton’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz, having already called the five-set Tiafoe vs Michelsen match beforehand.
The 2016 Davis Cup winner also spoke about comparisons between his achievements and those of Chilean Marcelo Ríos, and recalled the moments he lived 17 years ago after denying Roger Federer his sixth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.
Interview with Juan Martín Del Potro
— You remain the last Grand Slam champion not born in Europe. Seventeen years of European dominance.
— Quite a record, isn’t it? Around 80 Grand Slams, I think — but it seems to me that at this tournament that statistic could be broken. Let’s see if Shelton or Tiafoe are capable of winning this Grand Slam. I think the opportunity is there for all four semi-finalists. We will see who lifts the trophy.
— You won here young. You were 20 when you ended Roger Federer’s run, with five consecutive titles in New York going into that final. What is the memory that comes back to you most from that historic night?
— Lifting the trophy, obviously. That moment is unforgettable. I remember it as if it happened just a few days ago. I also remember arriving in the locker room after winning, my whole team celebrating, and very close to me was Roger’s team — and Roger himself. And instead of letting me enjoy it on my own, they all came over, hugged me, were genuinely happy for me. If anything, they gave me the green light to celebrate this great tournament.
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— Your career is often compared to Marcelo Ríos’. Two legends of Latin American tennis. Who shares the podium with Guillermo Vilas and Gustavo Kuerten?
— We can make it a podium of four, so nobody fights (laughs). El Chino is an incredibly talented player — one of those you really enjoyed watching. He was left-handed, did wonderful things. We always remember when he became world No. 1 by winning Miami, which at the time was considered the fifth Grand Slam. El Chino has been one of the greats of Latin American tennis.
— What do people remember more: a world No. 1 ranking or a Grand Slam title?
— I don’t know — you would have to ask the fans. I think both are memorable, both are achievements that put you in the history of the sport, in the history of tennis. Some might say one thing, others another — it is very personal. I always dreamed of winning the US Open from a very young age, and it is crazy, but the only Grand Slam I managed to win is precisely the US Open. That has immense value for me.
— Three Argentines have made history at the US Open in the Open Era. Besides yourself, Gabriela Sabatini won in 1990 and Vilas in 1977. There is a longstanding call for the ATP to recognise Vilas as a former world No. 1. What do you think? Do you believe it is fair?
— For us Argentines — and I think for Latin Americans and South Americans — Vilas was the great reference point. He is the one who left his mark on this sport, who inspired everyone else to start playing, who made people fall in love with tennis. He played in an era when the sport was hugely prestigious, when there were so many stars. I think it would be very beautiful and very well deserved for that to be acknowledged.
— Where would Juan Martín Del Potro fit in today’s era? Would you be fighting Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for Grand Slam titles?
— I don’t know — they are very young and have enormous power. I think it is better to be on this side, commentating on their matches and enjoying their tennis, because what I am watching is an impressive physical prowess. At that level the body suffers enormously. And well, that takes its toll — at the end of the day, when tennis is over, you have pains that are not pleasant. So let me stay on this side.
