23/08/2010 23:22 CEST - Us Open
Del Potro pulls out
Reigning US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro has pulled out of Flushing Meadows with the same right wrist injury that has kept him off the court since January. Ben Carenco.
The Argentine had a stellar 2009 season where he beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in successive matches en route to the 2010 US Open title and also reached the final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
2010 has been a stark contrast in comparison; he lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January and then immediately pulled out of some follow up tournaments before having surgery on his right wrist in May.
The Argentine, who had hoped to be back to defend is 2009 US Open title, told of his sadness to be missing one of his favourite tournaments since his career break-through last year.
“Winning in New York last year has been my major accomplishment in tennis and my best memory so far,” he said. “I feel extremely sad to announce that I will not to be able to defend my US Open title.”
“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,” he said.”I look forward to returning to New York in 2011 and wish all the best to the tournament organizers and my fellow players.”
After finishing 2009 at No.5 in the rankings, the Argentine has managed to stay in the top ten (at No.9) despite not playing since January but with him unable to defend the mass of points from last year’s US Open, a fall from the upper echelon of Men’s tennis is inevitable.
Ben Carenco
"The majority of the matches I win aren't pretty. But I've made a career out of that."
Andy Roddick on his 1st round victory over finnish Nieminen.
June the 28th, 1977
Eighteen-year-old John McEnroe becomes the first qualifier to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon when he defeats the Australian Phil Dent in the quartefinals. .
From "On this day in Tennis History" by Randy Walker
