Luckless former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a recurrence of the wrist injury that had sidelined the former US Open champion for 11 months.
The Argentinian returned to action last week at the Sydney International, where he reached the quarter-finals after an 11-month layoff.
But the former world No.4 was again troubled by pain in his right wrist, prompting him to pull out of the first major of the year.
"With five-set matches, it is very tough," del Potro said on Sunday.
"It could be dangerous for my wrist.
"It was a tough decision, but it could be a smart decision if I want to stay healthy and play for the whole year."
Del Potro - who was due to play Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in what was shaping as one of the best opening-round matches at Melbourne Park - will return to Argentina for further treatment.
"I hope to start playing again very, very soon in the United States tournaments," he said.
"But (my doctor) will say what could be good for my future.
"I'm very positive. I really enjoying playing tennis again last week in Sydney, winning a couple of matches.
"I didn't expect that, for sure.
"That has given me little bit of motivation to pass through this pain again."
The wrist injury had prevented Del Potro from hitting his backhand properly, although he was still able to send top-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini crashing out of the Sydney International before losing in the quarters to Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin.
"It could be a risk for my mind, for my body, for everything," he said.
"Now is time to stop and see the doctor again and make a good plan for the future.
"I really want to play tennis as soon I can and I will do everything to do it.
"(But) I don't want to change my style, I don't want to change my backhand, my technique.
"I'm trying to do the same as always."
Share
