Del Potro pulls out of Australian Open

ON-GOING FITNESS issues have forced Juan Martin del Potro out of next month's Australian Open and his planned warm up event innewzealand,organisersofthe Auckland Classic announced on Saturday.

"Juan Martin del Potro has confirmed he will withdraw fromtheaustralasianswingdue to fitness issues," the Classic organisers said in a statement, referring to the two tournaments in January.

"Del Potro confirmed via his management team overnight that he has not had sufficient recovery time and will be withdrawing from the (Auckland) Classicandtheaustralianopen."

The announcement came a month after del Potro staged an incredible comeback to down world number six Marin Cilic of Croatia in an epic five-setter to set Argentina up for their first Davis Cup crown.

The player's management has confirmed the former US Open winner, ranked 38th, will start his ATP season in February but could not say at which tournament.

"In 2017 I want to enjoy being healthy and knowing that I have the peace of mind. Know that luckily Davis Cup is at home. That makes me very calm," Del Potro said.

Del Potro was the 2016 tennis comeback success story. After missing most of last year because of injury, he began 2016 ranked 1,042th and finished at 38th after a meteoric rise which included wins over Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Del Potro beat Roger Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open andthefollowingyearreacheda career high of world number four before he began to be troubled by wrist injuries.