Juan Martin del Potro will miss French Open to focus on grass-court season

12 May 2016 05:23

Juan Martin del Potro will miss the French Open after deciding to focus on the grass-court season.

The former US Open champion returned to action in February following more than two years blighted by wrist problems but has been taking his comeback slowly.

He was in tears after beating one of the form men of 2016, Dominic Thiem, at the Madrid Open last week but announced on Twitter that he will not be playing at Roland Garros.

The Argentinian had entered the year's second grand slam using his protected ranking of eight but will instead turn his attention from clay to grass.

Del Potro wrote: "I am very happy to tell you the news: thanks to the improvements shown in recent weeks, for the first time in my rehab process I can confirm I will play several tournaments in a row.

"We decided that the smartest move is to start my preparation for the grass season. The list of tournaments is yet to be confirmed but I hope to play as much as possible and, if the captain considers I should be part of the playing team, to finish the trip in Italy for the Davis Cup tie.

"Sorry for my fans at Roland Garros, I am going to miss you one more year. I'll see you in 2017."

Del Potro last played the French Open in 2012, when he lost in the quarter-finals in five sets to Roger Federer.

Source: PA