Juan Martin del Potro to miss Australian Open 2017

12/21/2016

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro is unlikely to be fit enough to play in the Australian Open to be played in January. He has also cast doubts about his availability for Argentina’s title defence in the first-round tie in the Davis Cup match against Italy in February.

Del Potro has been plagued by so many injury problems in recent years, but the Argentine had a fantastic 2016 season, having recovered from a third wrist operation early in the year. He won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics in August after knocking out Novak Djokovic in the opening round and then, in November, inspired Argentina to their Davis Cup title for the first-ever time.

But after a busy year, the Argentine has hinted that he may opt out from the Australian Open Grand Slam, to be played in January 2017.

He said, “What I need is to have someone get me physically fit enough to last the whole year. There’s a fortnight to the Australia Open and I’m unlikely to make that objective,” reported Reuters.

“We’re looking at what the priority is. If tennis waited for me for two years, Australia can wait for me for one more,” he added.

Del Potro, who is set to play two exhibition matches against David Ferrer of Spain on December 27 and 28, also said that he may not be available to help Argentina in their Davis Cup title defense.

"There's still some time to the first tie against Italy but not so much and it's going to be on clay and that's a surface I struggle on," he said.