Del Potro to undergo surgery for injured knee; could miss months

Juan Martin del Potro's newest knee injury will require surgery, and could cause him to miss several months on tour.

Del Potro slipped on the grass while playing his opening match at Queen's, producing some swelling in his right knee, which he had previously fractured during a fall on court at Shanghai in 2018. He had played just four events since then until Queen's, when he hurt it again.

"The medical studies done last night in a clinic in London show that Juan Martin del Potro has suffered again a fracture in the right patella," said a statement from his team.

The Argentine has been frequently injured during his career, having right wrist surgery the year following his win at the 2009 US Open, and then three procedures on his left wrist that took him off the tour again until 2016.

He chose to avoid surgery on his knee as he began his comeback this season, but will now have to have another. "This will take place in the next couple of days," said the statement.

According to La Nacion, the surgery del Potro had been initially considering on his knee would have kept him off the tour for half the season.

Del Potro, who has spoken before about almost quitting because of his previous injuries, has not publicly issued any reaction to this development. He had the best season of his comeback in 2018, winning his first Masters title at Indian Wells, getting to the final of the US Open, and moving up to No. 3 in the rankings.

The No. 12 had withdrawn from Queen's before announcing that he would need surgery.