Tennis News: Argentine Del Potro To Miss 2015 Australian Open Due To Wrist Injury

Juan Martin del Potro will not play in the the 2015 Australian Open. The 26-year-old Argentine will go under the knife addressing a wrist injury that will cause him the first tennis Grand Slam of the year.

Del Potro missed tournaments for a span of 10 months before joining the 2015 APIA International Sydney last week beating Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-3, 7-6 (4) and Italy’s Fabio Fognini, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 but lost to Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (3) in a hard-fought quarterfinals.

"I didn't feel prepared for playing in this big event. My first Grand Slam after one year, five-set matches, is very tough. It could be dangerous for my wrist,” Del Potro said in an official statement. "It was a tough decision, but it could be a smart decision if I want to stay healthy and play for the whole year. I am still doing treatments. I will see the doctor again. He will say what could be good for my future but I'm very positive.”

Del Potro promise that he’d be ready in the tournaments following the Grand Slam in Melbourne, Australia particularly the tournaments in the United States, at Indian Wells or Miami Masters events sometime in March.

Del Potro has a career record of 314 wins against 127 losses winning 18 ATP titles since turning pro in 2005. With his 2009 breakthrough win at the US Open, he’s one of the few players who have won a Grand Slam title outside of top players Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Del Potro beat Federer in the championship round in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Since that Grand Slam win, Del Potro has struggled with injuries particularly in his wrist. Owing to missed time in the tour, Del Potro is currently ranked 276th in the world and was the world no. 5 early in 2014.

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