The injury-ravaged career of luckless Juan Martin del Potro has hit another speed bump with the Argentine ruled out of the Australian Open.

The 2009 US Open champion had been slated to return for the season-opening grand slam but reports from media in Argentina, confirmed by countryman and fellow player Diego Schwartzman, say he won’t make the trip.

One of just four players outside of the ‘big three’ to win a grand slam in the last 14 years, del Potro has had a torrid run with injuries since beating Roger Federer to claim the US Open in 2009.

He’s had various knee injuries and problems with both his wrists, at one stage contemplating retirement and missing almost two years of the tour.

The former world No.3 last played at Queen’s in June 2019, withdrawing with a knee injury before his round of 16 match.

Schwartzman said del Potro had been troubled by this particular injury since late 2018.

“It was difficult for him coming back. He was trying with different doctors, with surgery after Queen’s,” said Schwartzman, who had spoken to del Potro about his woes in recent weeks..

“He’s not ready to come back. For us it’s also difficult, because it’s always nice to have Juan Martin in every tournament and for Argentina, for the country. For the tennis it’s also important to have him on court.”

Schwartzman said del Potro had been practising and figured he’d return to competition in the next one to two months.