Mark Phillippoussis sat on a white sofa in the player's lounge at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, his long, and frequently damaged, legs stretched out in front of him. He was watching Juan Martin del Potro playing Richard Berankis in the first round of this ATP event.
"He looks nervous," the tall Australian observed. "If you are out for a long time, it's tough. He needs matches and some wins. Then he'll be all right."
Philippoussis should know. In 2001, he spent three months in a wheelchair and another two and a half months on crutches as a result of knee surgery. He was already a U.S. Open finalist and by 2002 was playing well enough again to reach the final at Wimbledon. "But there is always the fear," he said. "You never know how well you are going to play again."
That is what del Potro is going through now. The 6-foot-6 Argentine who stunned the tennis world in 2009 by coming back from a set down to beat Roger Federer in the final of the U.S. Open, is trying to make it back after almost a year out of the game following wrist surgery.
Nervous or not, del Potro came through under the lights Tuesday night to beat his young Lithuanian opponent 6-4, 6-1. The match was a little closer than the score suggests but del Potro loved the whole experience.
"To be playing my tennis again, so nice," he said in his quiet, understated way. "It was a great atmosphere, many Argentine fans; fans from everywhere. I enjoyed it."
To be forced onto the sidelines at the age of 21 after making such sensational progress was a bitter blow. Asked if there were days of depression when he sat around eating too much ice cream back home in Tandil, Argentina, del Potro offered a little smile. "Yes, some days, that was true."
Then he began his comeback at the end of last year and felt some pain in his wrist, and the depression sometimes returned. There were rumors that he thought about walking away from the sport, but it was a fleeting mood.
"I know this is the road I have to travel," he said. "I have to live with it. It is better now because I am improving. I did not know if I could ever be a great player again. I thought about what I was missing. I missed everything – the tour, the fans, the tournaments, my routine. When I came back my problem was confidence. Now I have been in semifinals in San Jose and Memphis, it is better. Tonight, Berankis played very well. He is a very talented player who has a very good future. But I had a little more experience and focused well on important points."
At least del Potro is showing no signs of the having caught the cold epidemic that swept through Memphis and forced Andy Roddick and five other players out of the Delray draw. He is a fighter and will battle on even if the nerves linger awhile.
After del Potro had finished, Philippoussis rolled protective elastic bandages up onto both knees and went out to claim his first title on the ATP Champions Tour by beating Aaron Krickstein, the former U.S. Davis Cup player, 6-3, 6-2. They used to call him "The Scud" and Philippoussis showed why, winning 21 of 23 points on his mighty first serve.
"This tour has been great for me," said the Australian who now makes his home in San Diego. "It has restored my love for tennis."
