Juan Martin Del Potro: My Left Wrist Is Still Not 100%, But It’s Getting Better

Argentine giant Juan Martin del Potro met the press in Dubai yesterday and gave an update on his ailing wrist which he says is still not 100%.

“My wrist is getting better, but I am still not feeling confident to hit my backhand 100% and the injury has affected my slice and drop shots,” he told the Gulf News. “I need time to work and get muscle again on my arm. It’s not easy mentally.”

The 25-year-old del Potro opens his Dubai campaign against Indian No. 1 Somdev Devvarman. In his previous two trips to the event he lost in the semifinals the last two years losing to Roger Federer in 2012 and Novak Djokovic in 2013. Earlier today he won his first round doubles with Radek Stepanek.

Del Potro began the year with a title in Sydney before the shocking 5-set loss in the Australian Open second round to Roberto Bautista Agut. Ten days after the loss he revealed the issue with the left wrist, which fortunately wasn’t as severe of an injury as thought.

Del Potro returned to action two weeks ago in Rotterdam losing to Ernests Gulbis which doesn’t appear to as bad a loss in retrospect.