Juan Martin Del Potro: Is He Ready to Take His Next Slam?

The 2009 US Open was a surprise to most everybody. The Argentinian was playing in his first major final, and while he had just bested Rafael Nadal in convincing fashion in the semifinal, Roger Federer was still the clear favorite. When Roger went up two sets to one and was two points away from the match, it seemed all but over. 

But then, Del Potro started swinging with nothing to lose, rocketing forehands that made Federer's look like they were in slow motion and, more and more, starting to dictate play with his penetrating ground strokes. When he took away the title in front of a stunned New York crowd, it looked like men's tennis had a new star.

Unfortunately, things have not gone smoothly since then. Del Potro has been hampered often by injury, with a precarious wrist that hasn't been able to do as much damage with his ground strokes as when he made his miraculous run. 

Things are starting to look better, though, as he has broken back into the Top 20 and nearly into the Top 10. At the French Open and Wimbledon, he gave Novak Djokovic and Nadal difficult matches before eventually succumbing.  And while his Australian and US Open tournaments could be seen as disappointing, Marcos Baghdatis and Gilles Simon are no mere journeymen themselves.

If he could regain some of the force behind his ground strokes and find his hard-court form again, there's reason to believe that 2012 could finally be the year where he takes home his second Slam title. He's considered among the most dangerous players right now, and rightfully so, as some of his weapons are unparalleled on tour.

However, I believe that this may not be the year where he takes his next Slam. He's still in the process of recovering and finding his form, and taking down the big four's stranglehold on the Slams requires something special that I believe he has yet to regain.

Look for him to make deep runs and—if the right Del Potro shows up—to maybe run away with one, but not for him to be a staple of the semifinal or title matches.