Juan Martin del Potro to make last-minute French Open decision

Juan Martin del Potro says he will wait until the last possible moment before deciding if he will participate in the French Open.

The Argentine picked up a groin injury during the Italian Masters a fortnight ago and he admits he is not sure if he will be fully fit for the second Grand Slam of the season.

“The clay-court season is usually the hardest part of the year for me, but I knew that already,” he told Lanacion.com.ar. “I had difficult games in Madrid, and in Rome I felt a little tear during the match against [David] Goffin and I still haven’t made a full recovery.

“I am still a doubtful whether I will be fully fit to play in this tournament, but it is the last event on clay, which makes me excited that’s why I am taking all the necessary caution to recover.”

Ranked fifth, Del Potro is set to play against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round.

When asked if he would risk playing at Roland Garros, he replied: “I don’t want to get to that point. I have had a very good season.

“I make this effort because it’s Roland Garros. That’s why I stayed in Europe. I know of injuries, I have experience in this kind of thing.”

He added: “I have time [to make a decision]. Sometimes I feel better, sometimes, not so much. It is part of the recovery. I have a day and a half left. Keep in mind that it is a tournament on dirt with five sets.”

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