Del Potro unlikely to be fit for Australian Open

By Luis Ampuero

BUENOS AIRES ( Reuters) - Juan Martin del Potro is unlikely to be fit enough to play in next month's Australian Open, the Argentine told a news conference on Tuesday.

The former U.S. Open champion also cast doubt on whether he would play in the Davis Cup first round tie at home to Italy in February when Argentina begin the defence of their title.

“What I need is to have someone get me physically fit enough to last the whole year,” he said.

“There’s a fortnight to the Australia Open and I’m unlikely to make that objective.

“We’re looking at what the priority is. If tennis waited for me for two years, Australia can wait for me for one more.”

Del Potro is set to play two exhibition matches against Spaniard David Ferrer in Buenos Aires and at the seaside resort of Mar del Plata on Dec. 27 and 28.

Having been plagued by injury problems, he enjoyed an unexpectedly good 2016 season, having recovered from a third wrist operation early in the year.

The 28-year-old won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics in August, after knocking out favourite Novak Djokovic in the opening round, then helped Argentina win the Davis Cup for the first time.

Argentina begin the defence of their title against Italy in Buenos Aires from Feb. 3-5, but Del Potro said he was unsure if he would feature in the tie.

"There's still some time to the first tie against Italy but not so much and it's going to be on clay and that's a surface I struggle on," he said.

(Writing by Rex Gowar; Editing by Toby Davis)