Juan Martin del Potro has indicated he will not attend the ATP Tour Finals as an alternate, though Rafael Nadal is in doubt to play at the event.
Del Potro, who was playing for the fifth week in a row, fell to John Isner in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters. Winning the match would have qualified him for the eight-player field at the Tour Finals, but he said he would now return home.
"I'm going to Tandil," he told press in Spanish following his exit.
Del Potro would be either the first alternate for the ATP Tour Finals, or the second if Isner or Jack Sock win Paris. But he said that his recent schedule has left him with aches and pains that could prevent him from being competitive.
"I have pain in my back, legs, it's not just my wrist," said del Potro, who has had three procedures on his left wrist. "It's a nice pain, because it's the pain that comes from competing, from winning matches, and it's something I long for so much."
The Argentine has won 20 of his 25 most recent matches, but would be playing top 10 players in each meeting at London.
"And when you have concerns, these are difficult players to play against," he added.
The former Grand Slam champion is No. 17 in the rankings.