Top tennis coach Brad Gilbert is tipping Juan Martin del Potro to challenge the world’s top-four for Grand Slam titles next season after the Argentine ended his year with an impressive semi-final showing in London.
Del Potro, who won the US Open in 2009 before suffering a serious wrist injury, claimed back-to-back wins over Roger Federer in Basel and in London, to send a strong statement to the game’s elite.
“Del Potro is playing a lot better and I expect a lot of good things from him in 2013,” Gilbert told Sport360° at the O2 Arena. “I think we should (expect him to do well in Slams next year). He’s got the talent, now he’s just got to push through the door.
“He’s done it before and I think if he wouldn’t have had the injury that he had in 2010, he would have done it already.”
Gilbert, who has coached Andre Agassi, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, also believes those who have performed well at the ATP World Tour Finals will take a great boost into next season – even with a six-week off-season in between.
The American said: “It makes a statement, being able to win this event and will have a carry-over effect going into Australia.”
Besides Del Potro, Gilbert says to look out for a couple of youngsters breaking into the top-10 next year, but admits they have a tough road ahead of them considering how competitive tennis is at the moment.
“Maybe Jerzy Janowicz,” he added. “He has the potential. And maybe [Milos] Raonic. One of those master servers. But right now it’s tough to be tough.”
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