Second seed Juan Martin del Potro retired with a wrist injury in his first-round match against Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman on Tuesday after losing the first set tiebreaker at the Dubai Championships.
The 2009 US Open champion and world No.5 had been having trouble coming over his backhand during the 67-minute set.
“I didn’t feel well on the court; my wrist hurts a lot all the time,” said del Potro. “It was tough to play today.
“I tried everything, but I cannot hit my backhand and I cannot be the player that I want to be.”
Del Potro has been troubled by his left wrist since early January, feeling it for the first time in his opening match at the Australian Open after winning the Sydney title.
The Argentine played a fortnight ago in Rotterdam, making the quarter-finals but complaining every day about pain when hitting his backhand.
Del Potro went immediately to the tournament doctor after the loss. He said he had been in touch with his long-time American doctor and warned: “The pains I’m feeling are similar to the ones I had in my right wrist four years ago (which required surgery and resulted in a lost 2010 season).”
Del Potro has been saying for weeks that US advisers have been telling him it would be fine to play on his bad wrist. But the problem prevents him hitting his backhand with any authority and remains a huge mental issue each time he picks up a racquet.
In other first-round action in Dubai, Novak Djokovic returned to his quest for titles after one of the biggest disappointments of his career with a hard-hitting, straight-sets success before a packed stadium.
The 6-3 6-3 victory over Uzbekistan’s world No.53 Denis Istomin was ideal competitive rehabilitation for the seven-time grand slam winner after losing his Australian Open title to Stanislas Wawrinka in the semi-finals in Melbourne.
Djokovic is seeking a fifth Dubai title to equal the record of Roger Federer, whom he should meet in Friday’s semi-finals.
“My game isn’t where I want it to be,” Djokovic admitted. “But I am still happy with this start.
“It’s just the match situation – it’s quite different from the practice court.
“And not having competed for so long, it takes a toll. My body feels it a little bit. But I will get back to work. It’s work and I love it at the same time.”
Djokovic next plays Spain’s world No.51 Roberto Bautista Agut, while Federer takes on Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.
Third-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych extended his winning streak to eight matches with a 6-3 6-4 win over Romanian qualifier Marius Copil.
Russian sixth seed Mikhail Youzhny advanced via a 6-3 6-4 defeat of Poland’s Michal Przysiezny, while Czech Lukas Rosol downed German Daniel Brands 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
