Dubai Open: I could not be the player I would like to be, says Del Potro

Argentine threatened by injury again; quits match against Devvarman.

DUBAI:

Juan Martin Del Potro, the former US Open champion who became the ATP Tour’s comeback player of the year after recovering from a career-threatening wrist injury, has been struck down by a similar injury again.

The courageous and usually hard-hitting Argentine lasted little more than an hour and only one set in the Dubai Open, before requiring lengthy treatment after which he called it quits.

The beneficiary was Somdev Devvarman, whose entry as a wildcard made him hugely popular here with the former-patriot crowd which yelled him through the saving of three set points to snatch the only set 7-6 (7-3).

But the real focus of attention was Del Potro who, having battled from around 500 in the world rankings back into the top five, may be fearing a similar plunge again.

Disappointing tournaments in Melbourne, Rotterdam, and now in the first round here have brought him back to the question as to whether he requires another operation – on the left wrist now, it was the right last time – and call quits on the season as well.

“It’s difficult to speak with you at the moment,” said Del Potro, fighting to keep control of his emotions. “I am coming here out of respect, and I will let you know what my injury is and what my plans will be.”

The wrist had been hurting before Del Potro came to this first-round match and he volunteered that he had had to make a ‘big effort’ to play at all. His subsequent remarks raised doubts as to whether this decision had been wise.

“I don’t feel really well,” he admitted. “My wrist is hurting a lot, and everybody knows what happened to me four years ago with my other wrist.

“It was really tough to play today [Tuesday] and I tried everything, but it’s very difficult to play in these conditions [windy]. I was playing slices and I could not be the player I would like to be.”

Devvarman to face Jaziri in next match

The Indian also offered condolences, and can look forward to performing before an even bigger crowd, as his next opponent is also a wildcard, the Tunisian Malek Jaziri, who is popular with Muslim spectators.

Jaziri caused a surprise by saving five match points to beat Igor Sijsling, the world number 53 from The Netherlands, by 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.

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