Del Potro: 'I just want to play tennis wherever I can, whenever I can'

Juan Martin del Potro, who started his season this week in Delray Beach, says he is happy with his level of play and can keep rising in the rankings.

"I want to keep going up in the rankings, play very often with the top guys," he told reporters at a pre-tournament press conference in Delray Beach. "I just want to play tennis wherever I can, whenever I can.

"And I'm so glad with my level in the moment."

Del Potro, who won his first-round match against Kevin Anderson, had not played since helping Argentina win its first Davis Cup three months ago. A year ago at this event, he was starting almost from scratch, returning from wrist surgery and getting little pace on his two-handed backhand. Since then, he has won a silver medal at the Olympics, won a Davis Cup title and scored wins over Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in what has been a highly-publicized comeback.

"I think the people recognize my effort to come back," he said. "I am here with my bad backhand [in 2016], and nobody cares if I win a match or not. They just wanted me to play tennis again, and I did. And beating [top players], I feel tennis people start to believe again in my game."

The 28-year-old said that his backhand is still not where he wants it to be.

"I just want to keep improving my backhand,” the former U.S. Open champion said. “I've been working hard with my two-handed backhand during the preseason.”

Del Potro added that he has learned to utilize his one-handed slice backhand.

"I would like to have my old backhand in the future,” he said. “But with the slice, I can surprise. Now I can mix with my two-handed backhand."

Del Potro is No. 42 in the rankings. He’ll play Damir Dzumhur on Thursday in the second round in Delray Beach.