Versatility and exquisite footwork always trump pure power. Juan Martin del Potro, at 6 ft. 6 inches and multiple operations later, is in desperate need of a plan B. His explosive power game may have earned him his first and only Grand Slam title at the 2009 US Open, but at what cost?

The affable Argentine has claimed 20 titles on the ATP World Tour and attained a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world in 2010, five months prior to his first of four wrist surgeries. Unable to unleash his powerful two-handed backhand since undergoing a third surgery on his left wrist in June 2015, del Potro has been forced to employ a one-handed backhand and more often than not, is compelled to slice it. This strategic compromise may prove less fruitful on the clay and hard courts but is paying dividends on the lush lawns of the All England Club.

No player wants to see the 2009 US Open champion in their section of the draw, let alone during the first week. Much to everyone’s surprise, including his own, del Potro dismantled the 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in four sets in the second round of Wimbledon. Although he is known for his potent serve and formidable forehand, del Potro truly shone when volleying, winning almost 70% of his forays to the net. Perhaps this was a deliberate attempt to shorten the points in order to spare his wrists from the onslaught of Wawrinka’s punishing groundstrokes.

Due to his recent surgery and chronic injuries, del Potro is currently ranked 165th in the world and as a result was not seeded at Wimbledon, where he was a semifinalist in 2013. Del Potro’s third-round match against the talented young Frenchman Lucas Pouille will resume on the middle Sunday, typically reserved as a day of rest. This is their first meeting, and after splitting the first two sets in tiebreaks, Pouille took the third set 7-5.

Will del Potro be able to regroup and win the match in five sets? The postponement seems more advantageous to del Potro, considering his chronic injuries and the added benefit of slowing down Pouille’s momentum. Should he emerge victorious, his next opponent is the unpredictable but gifted young Australian Bernard Tomic. Just 23 years of age and seeded 19th, Tomic is making his sixth appearance at the All England Club. The Argentine has won their previous two meetings, both contested on hard courts. They last played in 2014 in the final at Sydney. Neither player came into Wimbledon with an abundance of confidence, but both have pulled off significant wins this past week.

Juan Martin del Potro is a Grand Slam champion, and that has value. He knows what is required to win seven matches over the course of two weeks under trying conditions. Is he physically and mentally capable of competing at an exceptionally high level, employing a strategy geared toward protecting his fragile left wrist? Stay tuned.