Juan Martin del Potro accepted a wildcard for main draw entry into Indian Wells. He said he is recovering better than anticipated from a second surgery on his left wrist, leading the Argentine to target a March return. Del Potro is also entered in the doubles event with Marin Cilic, who has been sidelined with injury.
The former U.S. Open champion, who withdrew from the Australian Open and then underwent surgery, said he was in "full recovery" and beating the timetable set by his doctor. "That has me enthused and that’s why I believe my return will be very soon," he said at a press conference, in comments quoted by Reuters in Buenos Aires.
The 26-year-old earlier said that he does not have an exact date, but was looking at coming back for the hard court Masters events. "I'm not going to drop my arms or surrender because of an injury. If my hand responds well, I’ll come back as soon as possible but that depends exclusively on my hand, it will decide my return," he said.
Del Potro, who returned at Sydney following his first left surgery last year, said getting back into competition had motivated him. "The reception I got in Sydney made me feel fans had not forgotten me," del Potro said. "It charged me with the energy to take the decision to go and see the doctor again losing no more time because I felt that if I recovered my physical condition I would rediscover my game, and I don’t care how long it takes."
Del Potro won two matches at Sydney but experienced wrist pain during the tournament.