Juan Martin del Potro is still deciding whether he will play the Australian Open, saying he does not know if he will be fully fit for the tournament.
"If I'm smart, I know that I have 15 days of practice left for Australia and for my first tournament, and that’s a goal I’m not going to make," he said at a press conference in Argentina to promote two exhibitions he is scheduled to play next week. "But I also know that it’s an important tournament and that if you do well, you can really move up in the rankings and be set for the rest of the season."
Del Potro, who returned this season from a third procedure on his left wrist, began to recapture his position among the elite by winning an ATP title in Stockholm and picking up victories against Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic. He finished his season just a few weeks ago by leading Argentina to its first Davis Cup, and indicated that he was only just starting to train again.
The former U.S. Open champion also played a reduced schedule during his comeback.
"What I need at the moment is not so much a coach, but someone who can get me in condition to play the whole season," he said, adding that playing the Australian tournaments could mean having to withdraw from subsequent events.
The former world No. 4 also did not commit to playing the first round of Davis Cup, saying clay was not his preferred surface. He has not yet decided, though, and will plan his schedule with his team.
Del Potro is No. 38 in the rankings.