TENNIS in DEPTH.

Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro is “expected” to return from injury at the US Open, says the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

The Argentine, 21, has not played since the Australian Open in January after suffering a wrist injury.

Del Potro said after undergoing surgery in May that he would miss the US Open as he did not want “to rush things”.

But a USTA statement on Thursday said Del Potro “is expected to return to Grand Slam competition” in New York.

And the player’s agent, Ugo Colombini, told The Associated Press: “Del Potro is working and hopefully he will be back soon.”

The US Open gets under way at Flushing Meadows on 30 August and Del Potro has already confirmed that he will play at the Thailand Open, which begins on 27 September.

“I am looking forward to playing the PTT Thailand Open on my return from injury,” said Del Potro.

“I really enjoyed myself on my last visit to Bangkok and hope for good results at this year’s tournament.”

Del Potro became the first man other than Rafael Nadal to beat Roger Federer in the final of a Grand Slam tournament at the US Open last September, but began struggling with tendinitis in his right wrist the following month.

He then suffered a recurrence of the injury in the new year and continued to struggle with the problem at the Australian Open, losing in the fourth round to Marin Cilic.

Bookmark It