Del Potro savours 'amazing year' after injury hell

Juan Martin del Potro said Sunday he will go into this week's China Open enjoying the "best moments" of a career that came perilously close to being destroyed by injury.

The strapping but softly spoken 30-year-old is the favourite in Beijing with reigning champion and world number one Rafael Nadal out injured and Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer also absent.

The man fondly known as "Delpo" is ranked fourth in the world behind that trio and while there has never been any doubt about his ability, his career has been blighted by wrist injuries.

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner, was beaten by Djokovic in the final at Flushing Meadows in early September.

But that did nothing to dispel the notion that Del Potro is a man enjoying his tennis again having painstakingly rebuilt his career.

"This could be one of the best seasons of my career," Del Potro, a popular figure in the locker room, said ahead of his assault on the China Open.

"I won my first Masters 1000, at Indian Wells, I got my highest ranking ever this season (three) and another Grand Slam final after nine years.

"It's an amazing year for me, but I also want to keep going because I like to pressurise myself, and I'm excited about that." - Looking deep within -
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