Juan Martin del Potro is weighing up the possibility of skipping the Australian Open to ensure his long-term health.
Del Potro, who made an impressive comeback to tennis in 2016 after years of wrist injuries, may also sit out Argentina’s Davis Cup tie in February and the ATP event in Delray Beach.
“If I’m being smart, I know that I have 15 days of practice left for Australia and for my first tournament, and that’s a goal I’m not going to make,” he said.
“Tennis waited for me for two years and it can wait one more Australian Open for me.
“But I also know that it’s an important tournament and that if you do well, you can really move up in the rankings and be set for the rest of the season. I’m in a tough situation.”
Del Potro, a former world No.4 and the 2009 US Open champion, is ranked 38th after a season during which he won his first title in over two years in Stockholm and helped guide his nation to its first ever Davis Cup trophy.
He also won a silver medal in singles at Rio – beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal along the way – and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Del Potro last played at the Australian Open in 2014, losing in the second round.
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