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Reigning champ del Potro skips U.S. Open
NEW YORK, Defending U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said Saturday he will skip this year's event while recovering from wrist surgery.
Del Potro, the world ninth-ranked player, took the 2009 U.S. Open after downing the world's top two players -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- in successive matches.
"I feel extremely sad to announce that I will not to be able to defend my U.S. Open title," del Potro said. "Winning in New York last year has been my major accomplishment in tennis and my best memory so far.
"I am so sorry for my fans, my sponsors and all the people that care about me, but I have only started practicing in the last two weeks and unfortunately I cannot compete at the top level yet. I look forward to returning to New York in 2011."
His only appearance so far this year was at the Australian Open. He had surgery on his right wrist May 4 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
NEW YORK, Defending U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said Saturday he will skip this year's event while recovering from wrist surgery.
Del Potro, the world ninth-ranked player, took the 2009 U.S. Open after downing the world's top two players -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- in successive matches.
"I feel extremely sad to announce that I will not to be able to defend my U.S. Open title," del Potro said. "Winning in New York last year has been my major accomplishment in tennis and my best memory so far.
"I am so sorry for my fans, my sponsors and all the people that care about me, but I have only started practicing in the last two weeks and unfortunately I cannot compete at the top level yet. I look forward to returning to New York in 2011."
His only appearance so far this year was at the Australian Open. He had surgery on his right wrist May 4 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.