Sabatini and Del Potro, together on a tennis court: rally, hug and the hope of returning to the US Open

Two titans of Argentine tennis together on the court. Gabriel Sabatinithe best player in the history of our country, shared a photo on Twitter with Juan Martin Del Potrthat is, former number three of the ATP, together with a legend who has revolutionized the networks. “Luxury Training”wrote la porteña, who also reached the third step of the ranking of the women’s circuit. “Gabi”answered the man from Tandil, with the emoji of two little hands forming a heart.

Sabatini, 52, is preparing to play the doubles draw of the Tournament of Legends in June Roland Garrosnext to Gisela Dulko. Last year the duo reached the final, in which the Italians lost Flavia Pennatta -Dulko’s former touring partner (together they won the 2010 Women’s Masters and 2011 Australian Open)- and Frances Schiavone.

Delpo, who played his last game in February 2022, is trying to recover form and competitive rhythm, after the nightmare experienced in the last four seasons due to the right knee injury. Is that the man from Tandil, 34, wants to get to the US Openwhere they promised her a farewell with all the dressings -like what they did to Serena Williams- to bring the curtain down on her extraordinary career.

The photo that Sabatini shared on Wednesday, in which they appear to have finished rallying on a concrete field, had almost a thousand likes in just half an hour and ignited the illusion of a fan, who replied with: “Mixed doubles at the next US Open”. Will that be the occasion of the meeting?

Another user even pointed out a curious coincidence: the two won their only Grand Slam titles in New York. Sabatini, in 1990, beating the German in straight sets Steffi Graff, then leader of the classification. And Del Potro, in 2009, with an epic victory in five sets against the Swiss Roger Federerwhich was number one in the world at the time.