I almost quit tennis, says del Potro

LONDON: Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said he almost quit tennis after a succession of wrist injuries, but still hopes he can regain his former powers.

Argentinian Del Potro, 27, returned to the tour in February nearly 11 months after undergoing wrist surgery for the third time, reaching the semi-finals at the 250 Series Delray Beach Open.

Results since have been a little disappointing, but after plumbing the depths the past two years at least he is able to play relatively pain free.

“I was close to quitting tennis. I got frustrated at home and I didn’t watch tennis on TV because it was sad for me,” Del Potro, who stunned Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open, told the website of the ATP World Tour (www.atpworldtour.com)

“It was close. But now, I have many good things to take from the tour. I would like to play tennis and that’s it,” he added.

Del Potro reached number four in the world in 2009 and was expected to follow up his US Open triumph with more grand slam titles only for his injuries to strike.

Despite being a right-hander, Del Potro’s left wrist has been the source of his discomfort, preventing him striking his trademark double-fisted backhand drive. It first troubled him in 2010 when he endured a nine-month break from the game after surgery.