JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO PULLS OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AFTER PAIN RETURNS TO HIS WRIST , HIS FLIGHT WAS 22 HOURS IS THAT GLAMOROUS ? TENNIS IS A BRUTAL SPORT & THEN SOME

Written by: Staff on 19th January 2015

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO PULLS OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AFTER PAIN RETURNS TO HIS WRIST , HIS FLIGHT WAS 22 HOURS IS THAT GLAMOROUS ? TENNIS IS A BRUTAL SPORT & THEN SOME

epa04565852 Juan Martin del Potro from Argentina during a press conference where he announced that he is pulling out from the Australian Open because of his recurring wrist injury, prior to the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament will go from 19 January until 01 February 2015. EPA/MADE NAGI |

The saddest news to come on the eve of the Australian Open was that Juan Martin del Potro, was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open because the wrist problems that had plagued him for much of the last few years hadn’t cleared up sufficiently for him to consider risking the possible rigors of a best of five sets Grand Slam event.

The 26 year-old only returned to competition last week at the Apia International in Sydney after an 11 months absence from the ATP World Tour that involved a second bout of wrist surgery. However after feeling new pain in the joint del Potro erred on the side of caution.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball to Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan during their men’s quarter final match at the Apia International tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, 15 January 2015. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

“It was a tough decision but could be a smart decision if I want to stay healthy and play for the whole year,” said del Potro who managed to win two matches to reach the quarterfinal stage in Sydney before losing to Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin in two tiebreaks.

“I didn’t feel prepared for playing in this big event. Five-set matches are very tough and could be dangerous for my wrist. It’s been hurting the last couple of days and weeks. Nothing new. Nothing dangerous and I’m still positive.”

At the start of the year there was a hesitance on del Potro’s behalf to commit to returning to the tour after initially targeting his comeback for the calendar opening Brisbane International. He delayed his departure from his home in Tandil and pulled out of the tournament with just a couple of days’ notice.

However he then made the 22 hours flight and impressed in Sydney with a couple of wins against experienced opposition in the shape of Ukrainian Sergiy Stalhovsky and the 18th ranked Fabio Fognini of Italy. “I want to play tennis as I did last week. That’s why I decided to withdraw here,” said del Potro as he pulled of his first round encounter with Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz and handed a main draw place to 146th ranked lucky loser Hiroki Moriya of Japan.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns a shot to Fabio Fognini of Italy during their second round match at the Apia International tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, 14 January 2015. EPA/DAN HIMBRECHTS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Next stop for del Potro is another consultation with his surgeon Richard Berger of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, who also operated on the wrist of Britain’s Laura Robson last year. “I’m hoping he will say things that are good for my future,” said the player who is currently placed 276th on the ATP World Tour computer and was allowed into the Melbourne draw on a protected ranking.

“I didn’t expect a couple of wins in Sydney, that’s for sure. But they have given me a little bit of motivation to pass through this pain again.”

A projected return to action for del Potro is unclear but he is hopeful of contesting the Memphis Open that begins on February 9.

One of del Potro closest friends on the ATP World Tour is Australian Open top seed Novak Djokovic and the world no.1 said: “It was very unfortunate and I was looking forward to see him here. It’s definitely a big loss for the tournament and for tennis, not having him around.

“First of all, he’s a great guy, a great person who is a great tennis player who is very powerful with a very attractive game for fans. Unfortunately he has now missed two of the crucial years during his active career because of the injuries. I just wish him all the best.”

Djokovic and del Potro have been close since their classic five sets semi-final at Wimbledon in 2013. “I’m sad to see this happen,” continued the Serb. “Injuries are the greatest enemy of any professional athlete. I had a wrist injury this last season, although not as serious. I know how tricky it is because you can’t do much about it.”

CONTENT VIA BOB LARSON TENNIS NEWS SERVICE.

Topics: Apia International, Atp World Tour, Australian Open, Delpo, Juan Martin Del Potro, Sydney, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 19, 2015 at 9:02 am

-@delpotrojuan PULLS OUT OF THE @AustralianOpen AFTER PAIN RETURNS TO HIS WRIST…- http://t.co/TWDCFG7Wey #Delpo #AusOpen #AO15 #tennis