Delpo, Keys out of Australian Open

Big hitters Juan Martin del Potro and Madison Keys will miss the year’s opening Grand Slam event.

Keys, the American world No.8, announced that she would skip the Australian Open due to wrist surgery.

Del Potro – who has struggled with wrist injuries throughout his career – hinted recently that he would not be adequately prepared to participate at Melbourne Park, as well as the Auckland tune-up event as he treads carefully in his fully-fledged return to professional tennis.

His management confirmed that he would not make the trip Down Under; the Argentine has not played the Australian Open since 2014.

Wrote Keys on Twitter: “The bad news is that I will not be ready to play the 2017 Australian Open.

“Three days after the year-end WTA Championships I had minor arthroscopic surgery on my left wrist.

“The procedure was very short, did not involve any tendon issues and went very well.

“I don’t want to rush back and need to take my time to perform my best on the court.”

The women’s draw at Melbourne Park has been hit especially hard.

In addition to Keys and Petra Kvitova – who will be sidelined for at least six months due to injuries sustained in a knife attack – the draw will also be missing Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.

Sharapova will not return from a doping ban until April, while Azarenka recently announced the arrival of her first child.