Cautious Del Potro says he didn't want to risk in Davis Cup

By Bill Scott Feb 13, 2012, 14:02 GMT

Rotterdam, Netherlands - Third seed Juan Del Potro may have the fitness advantage when he begins his debut ABN Amro World Tennis showing against former champion Michael Llodra in the first round.

The third-seeded Dek Potro will be making only his second start in the country after playing at Rosmalen on grass four years ago and reaching a semi-final. Llodra won the 2008 Rotterdam title over Robin Soderling.

But the Frenchman will have to deal with a nine-hour time difference as he races to Europe after helping his country to a 4-1 Davis defeat of Canada in far west Vancouver.

Argentine number one Del Potro, who has lifted his ATP ranking back to tenth in the world, said he was pleased that his team-mates beat Germany 4-1 in the Davis Cup first round at the weekend in Bamberg.

But del Potro did not play as he didn't want to take any risks after his wrist injury dramas which began in 2010.

'It was a fantastic win over Germany, they did great, but we now have a difficult quarter-final (April) against Croatia at home.

'We've never won the Cup and it's something we really want,' said the member of the 2011 finalist side who lost both of his singles rubbers against Spain in December.

'Going from indoor clay to this carpet could be dangerous for me. I didn't want to risk it this time, I've had bad experience with injuries. It was a precaution but still a tough decision,' he said.

Del Potro, who was beaten in an Australian Open quarter-final by Roger Federer last month, is seeded behind the Swiss and number two Tomas Berdych at the Ahoy stadium at the event where the three top 10 players are the top attraction.

The Argentine pronounced his fitness as good, adding 'the conditions are a lot different here than in Australia. But I have confidence indoors. I still need to play at 100 per cent, be ready to fight.'

The South American, who won the 2009 US Open over Federer and was poised to battle for the top ranking in early 2010 before his wrist injury set in at the Australian Open, said that he has re-booted his career after his long recovery from wrist surgery.

'It was horrible,' he said of his year away from the game. 'You're at home and thinking all kinds of bad things. You watch the ournament on TV and wish that you could be there.

'But now I'm just glad to be back in the top 10 and improving my game. My goal is to play healthy all season. I'm close to my best level again and can only gain confidence.'