Del Potro and Monfils Withdraw From Indian Wells

Former world number four Juan Martin del Potro withdrew from the BNP Paribas Masters at Indian Wells earlier this week as the Argentine still continues to battle a left wrist injury.

Del Potro was the runner up at the tournament back in 2013 and had been given a wild card to this year’s event. The Argentine is trying to make a comeback in 2015 after missing all of last season, but has played in just one tournament and three matches all year.

The 2009 U.S. Open champion will be replaced by Australian teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis.

In addition, two players who competed in Davis Cup action this past weekend, Belgium’s David Goffin and France’s Gael Monfils, have withdrawn from Indian Wells.

Goffin won the fifth and deciding match to lead the Belgians past the Swiss, but said he hurt his rib during the course of that match.

“I felt a slight pain on my rib during my Davis Cup match, so I decided to withdraw from the Indian Wells tournament to cure myself,” Goffin said on Facebook. “I will be back to competition in Miami where I will be 100 percent physically.”

A bruised knee is the reason Monfils cited for his withdrawal.

Over on the women’s side, Petra Kvitova withdrew from the tournament last week citing fatigue.

“I am extremely disappointed to have to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, one of my favorite tournaments on the calendar,” Kvitova wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately I have been feeling exhausted on the court in recent weeks and unable to compete at 100 percent.”

The tournament at Indian Wells is one of the most beloved on the tour, for both the men’s and women’s, and is the first Masters 1000 tournament of the season.

While the fields have taken a small hit with these withdrawals, there are still plenty of storylines heading in.

World number one Serena Williams will make her first appearance there since 2001; she is 14-1 in her career at Indian Wells.

Men’s players such as Marin Cilic, Jack Sock and Tommy Haas are all expected to make their 2015 debuts this week.

Click here for the complete men’s and women’s draws.