Juan Martin del Potro set to miss Australian Open

[uliks]

http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/10703824/juan-martin-del-potro-set-to-miss-australian-open

Juan Martin del Potro is unlikely to be fit to play in the 2017 Australian Open, in January.

The former US Open champion also cast doubt on whether he would play in the Davis Cup first-round tie at home to Italy in February when Argentina begin the defence of their title.

"What I need is to have someone get me physically fit enough to last the whole year," he said.


"There's a fortnight to the Australia Open and I'm unlikely to make that objective.

"We're looking at what the priority is. If tennis waited for me for two years, Australia can wait for me for one more."

Del Potro is set to play two exhibition matches against Spaniard David Ferrer in Buenos Aires and at the seaside resort of Mar del Plata on December 27 and 28.


Del Potro helped Argentina win the Davis Cup
Having been plagued by injury problems, he enjoyed an unexpectedly good 2016 season, having recovered from a third wrist operation early in the year.

The 28-year-old won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics in August, after knocking out favourite Novak Djokovic in the opening round, then helped Argentina win the Davis Cup for the first time.

Argentina begin the defence of their title against Italy in Buenos Aires from February 3-5, but Del Potro said he was unsure if he would feature in the tie.

"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.

 

[haqq777]

Ah man! That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing him play at AO17

 

[QuentinFederer]

Ah man! That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing him play at AO17

It really does suck, but as a Delpo fan I just have to be patient. The last thing he needs is to cause himself another injury.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

No big mine for the seeded players to step on in the 1st round.

Really hope Del Potro recovers properly so we can continue to enjoy his tennis. He left a big mark on 2016 and he can do even better than that next year.

 

[junior74]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

oh no, not again...

 

[mike danny]

Come on guys, at least he hasn't picked up another injury. That's good news.

 

[Noelan]

If he has to skip one slam(due lack of fittnes ) in 2017 ,AO is the best solution, his worst slam

 

[InsideOut900]

If he has to skip one slam(due lack of fittnes ) in 2017 ,AO is the best solution, his worst slam

Also the Slam played his current favourite surface.Del Potro would have been a great addition alongside Fed.

 

[haqq777]

It really does suck, but as a Delpo fan I just have to be patient. The last thing he needs is to cause himself another injury.

Well said!

 

[pc1]

It really does suck, but as a Delpo fan I just have to be patient. The last thing he needs is to cause himself another injury.

True enough. I think we all anticipate del Potro coming back and hope he can regain his top form.

 

[mike danny]

I think he should focus more on Wimb and the USO going forward. These 2 slams don't exert his stamina as much as AO and RG.

 

[heninfan99]

sounds like a very wise move on his part

 

[joekapa]

Damn. The greatest tennis player, never to reach his true potential. Probably never will.

 

[KINGROGER]

That's a huge shame, was looking forward to watching him play, along with Federer and Nadal

 

[mbm0912]

It's another year isn't it?

 

[SeeItHitIt]

That's bad news. Delpo really spiced up the second half of 2016. I'm kind of surprised he cited fitness and wonder if he's not masking some other underlying issue.

 

[pc1]

That's bad news. Delpo really spiced up the second half of 2016. I'm kind of surprised he cited fitness and wonder if he's not masking some other underlying issue.

Sometimes these injuries tend to be chronic. Let's hope this is not the case. Delpo is a unique talent. If he's healthy, with Federer back and hopefully Nadal back perhaps it can be a big five instead of a big four.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[Nostradamus]

http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/10703824/juan-martin-del-potro-set-to-miss-australian-open

I am telling you that wrist is time bomb waiting to fall off. not sure how long Delpo can continue to play on the tour.

 

[reaper]

If lack of fitness is a genuine reason it sounds like he's targeting the back end of the year. He's obviously taken a decent break post Davis Cup. The fact he's talking about missing the first round of Davis Cup because clay is a surface he struggles on suggests Wimbledon might be where he's targeting.

 

[mike danny]

It's better to not see Delpo temporarily than not see him for an entire season again. I think it's a good call.

Why exert himself in the AO heat when he can just target the faster slams, Wimb and the USO.

I believe he can still be top 10 if he exclusively plays post clay season.

 

[Roddick85]

A lack of fitness, yet the event is still about 4 weeks away? A bit early to announce that I find, unless he's covering up another injury.

 

[bjsnider]

I really don't understand this story. How does he know he won't be ready for AO17? Why not play it anyway? If he must skip events, why not skip smaller ones? Doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[tennis_pro]

Sucks

 

[JonnyMac]

Tis a shame, he could take his game to anyone. Unlike the lost boys Raonic and co !

Will make less excite :-(

 

[JRAJ1988]

Sucks, completely sucks from an armchair fan point of view. I was looking forward to having Del Potro have a good run at the AO.

He knows his body best, if this route means we will see him more during the season then so be it.

 

[metsman]

Too bad...I think the court would suit him very well too. But if he feels that he is not fit enough to play in the heat then I understand.

 

[jaggy]

That is a really bad piece of news

 

[Mainad]

Ut oh, doesn't sound good. Where Del Potro and his fitness are concerned we are constantly holding our collective breaths and crossing our collective fingers!

 

[Gerco]

I really don't understand this story. How does he know he won't be ready for AO17? Why not play it anyway? If he must skip events, why not skip smaller ones? Doesn't make any sense at all.

Having won Davis Cup made his 2016 schedule longer so after a little vacation he is now just starting his pre-season and playing some exo here in Argentina. He feels he is not yet prepared to play AO17 though he knows that if he plays and does well it could give him some boost in the rankings for the rest of the year, that appears to be his debate.

 

[VladimirJ]

It will be a terrible shame and bad for the game if Del Potro misses AO.

 

[TMF]

It will be a terrible shame and bad for the game if Del Potro misses AO.

Yes it's a shame that one of the top player won't be competing, and this should end the bs weak competition that you and many others complain about Federer.

 

[VladimirJ]

Yes it's a shame that one of the top player won't be competing, and this should end the bs weak competition that you and many others complain about Federer.

Murray, Federer and Wawrinka are still much tougher competition than what Fraud had to face in half of his slams.

 

[TMF]

Murray, Federer and Wawrinka are still much tougher competition than what Fraud had to face in half of his slams.

If that helps you sleep well at night, good for you.

 

[tennisaddict]

Murray, Federer and Wawrinka are still much tougher competition than what Fraud had to face in half of his slams.

Wawrinka is a fringe player who has shot to limelight in this weak era.

What is Murray's slam h2h with Fedalovic ? 4-500 ?

Federer is like 68 years old now.

 

[Dope Reign]

Wawrinka is a fringe player who has shot to limelight in this weak era.

What is Murray's slam h2h with Fedalovic ? 4-500 ?

pfft People constantly downplaying Murray's greatness.

It's 5!

 

[Jackuar]

Damn. The greatest tennis player, never to reach his true potential. Probably never will.

I'm afraid that will come true, sadly

 

[uscwang]

Feel sorry for Delpo. This guy can't get a break.

 

[swizzy]

delpo was the big story of tennis this past year. i was really hoping he was gonna pick up where he left off. big 4 look even better poised to dominate in Australia.. everyones attention that is.

 

[JoelSandwich]

Well ****

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Damn. The greatest tennis player, never to reach his true potential. Probably never will.

You can say the same thing about the players you sling crap at, but you don't. There's always got to be an agenda, and everyone knows yours is Weakeraovic.

 

[The Green Mile]

So it's not confirmed is it? Hope he makes it to Auckland, that is if he's feeling fit enough. I really want to see him play live up close. Karl Budge, the ASB director, seems to think he's still coming.

 

[joekapa]

You can say the same thing about the players you sling crap at, but you don't. There's always got to be an agenda, and everyone knows yours is Weakeraovic.

 

[Purplemonster]

Real pity, Del Potro is great to watch and also a true gentleman of the game.

 

[Gerco]

All the media here in Argentina now says he officially withdraw from Auckland and AO17

 

[jarko111]

If he has to skip one slam(due lack of fittnes ) in 2017 ,AO is the best solution, his worst slam

Also, if you have to skip a slam.. one that requires maybe more than 20 hours of flight time from Argentina is probably the one to go with.
Delpo has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He's just very quiet. He makes interesting decisions with his schedule.. well.. since he's come back.

 

[Noelan]

Also, if you have to skip a slam.. one that requires maybe more than 20 hours of flight time from Argentina is probably the one to go with.
Delpo has always been a bit of an enigma to me. He's just very quiet. He makes interesting decisions with his schedule.. well.. since he's come back.

It seems that he was pragmatic about his schedule after injury break. From what we saw in 2016 it looked like he was focused on OG and DC (where the ranking doesn't play a special role). Maybe he wanted to become national hero in Argentina while carefully moving forward to the top of the game.
As for AO, I never felt like he was truly comfortable on Plexi nor under scorching australian sun.

 

[fps]

It seems that he was pragmatic about his schedule after injury break. From what we saw in 2016 it looked like he was focused on OG and DC (where the ranking doesn't play a special role). Maybe he wanted to become national hero in Argentina while carefully moving forward to the top of the game.
As for AO, I never felt like he was truly comfortable on Plexi nor under scorching australian sun.

I am glad he's not getting ahead of himself and is really taking the time now to put in the kind of fitness work he needs to, it's arguable he never got the chance to go through this all due to his injuries, and getting back on the tour makes it hard to then step back off again. I'm happy if he's happy and giving himself the best chance of playing great tennis for the next 5 years.

 

[TahoeTennis]

I think Delpo will play, he still has a few weeks to train hard. He'll be there. Mark my words.