Former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from the Brisbane International, officials said yesterday, further delaying his return to the court from an injury-blighted season last year.
The Argentine had been scheduled to play in the Brisbane event starting on Monday next week, ahead of defending his title in the Sydney International from Jan. 11 to 17 in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
However, Brisbane International officials said Del Potro “was forced to withdraw with a persistent left wrist injury.”
After winning the US Open in 2009, Del Potro’s career was hampered by surgery on his right wrist in 2010 before he fought his way back into the top 10 again.
Pain in his left wrist first flared up at the Australian Open last January.
He retired from his opening match in Dubai the following month and then withdrew from tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, undergoing surgery in late March.
He has not played since.
Del Potro’s withdrawal from Brisbane follows that of last year’s US Open winner Marin Cilic, who was forced to pull out earlier this week with a shoulder injury.
HOPMAN CUP
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the Australian team at the Hopman Cup because of a back injury and has been replaced by Matthew Ebden.
Kyrgios, who beat Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon in July, also planned to play in the Sydney International before the Australian Open begins on Jan. 19, but this is now uncertain.
Ebden is to pair with Casey Dellacqua in the Hopman Cup mixed teams event in Perth, tournament officials said yesterday.
Australia opens play on Sunday against Poland, with Canada earlier taking on the Czech Republic. The US’ Serena Williams and John Isner are to play their first match on Monday against Italy.
Additional reporting by AP
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