Juan Martin del Potro to return to clay sooner than expected

Juan Martin del Potro will return for the clay court Masters events and the French Open, he announcedon social media.

The Argentine had previously indicated that he would not play a full clay-court season so he could take a break following a long hard-court run that included a title at Acapulco, a title at Indian Wells, and a semifinal at Miami.

Match point from Del Potro's win over Federer in Indian Wells:

Del Potro showed himself back hitting on clay this week. The 29-year-old named Madrid as his next event, followed by Rome and the French Open. That will give him a few more weeks than most of the other top players, who are either playing this week's event at Houston or next week's Masters in Monaco.

The former Grand Slam champion got his first Masters title at Indian Wells.

This week on Tennis Channel Plus:

—ATP Houston Outer Courts (4/9-4/13)

Catch all the action from the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship with outer court coverage live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday April 9 at 4 p.m. ET

—ATP Marrakech Final (4/15)

Don’t miss the Grand Prix Hassan II final live on Tennis Channel Plus Sunday April 15 at 9 a.m. ET

—ATP Monte-Carlo (4/15-4/22)

Watch first to last ball of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Sunday April 15 at 7 a.m. ET