Argentine Tennis Chief Grimaldi Wants Del Potro Back In The Fold

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th November 2013

Argentine Tennis Chief Grimaldi Wants Del Potro Back In The Fold

epa02638762 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina listens to question during a press conference at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, USA 17 March 2011. Del Potro advances to the next round after Tommy Robredo of Spain retired his match against Del Potro. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Juan Martin Del Potro is furious with the Argentina Tennis Association (AAT) and Davis Cup captain Martin Jaite, but the president of the (AAT) Arturo Grimaldi appears to have extended an olive branch to the Tower of Tandil, saying that he would walk to his city to talk with the nation’s No. 1.

Del Potro has declined once again to play in one of his country’s first round ties, this one that is coming up in early February in Argentina. Last year he said that it was because he didn’t like to change surfaces. This time he said it’s because the federation doesn’t listen to him and leaks negative stories about him to the press. He accused the federation and captain Martin Jaite – whom he did not want to get the job in the first place — of a ” hypocritical double standard.”

But unlike some other officials in the past, Grimaldi said that the federation is at least partly to blame for the deterioration of the relationships.

“I said a month ago in symbolic form: I’m walking to Tandil,” Grimaldi said. “I mean, obviously I’m willing to have a dialogue with all the pro players. It is a policy of the AAT to take charge and make a self-criticism because we are too far away from our pro players and so many former players work for the association so we can be closer to everyone, including Juan Martin.”

However, Grimaldi also said that captain Jaite and his assistant Mariano Zabaleta will keep their jobs and that they have been consulted about everything having to do with Davis Cup and pro players.

Grimaldi also said that the differences between the federation and Del Potro are not extraordinary ones and accused the press of digging up old controversies.

“It comes from the media and a story from the past that I do not think that has much to do today,” said Grimaldi.

The president also said that he is taking Del Potro’s opinion as to playing surface into account. Argentina is playing at home against Italy and could choose hard courts, which is his favored surface, if he happens to change his mind.

Topics: 10sballs.com, AAT, Arturo Grimaldi, Davis Cup, Juan Martin Del Potro, Mariano Zabaleta, Martin Jaite, Tennis, Tennis News