Argentina's Del Potro in Davis Cup spat

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) –

Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro reaches for a return at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London on November 11, 2012. Del Potro said Friday he will not play Davis Cup this coming season.

Argentine number one Juan Martin del Potro said Friday he will not play Davis Cup this coming season.

Skipper Martin Jaite had said on December 23 that Del Potro would not be facing Germany in his country’s World Group opener from February 1-3 after receiving a text message from the player that he was available ten days after a December 10 deadline.

Jaite insisted at the time that “the doors of the team are always open to him.”

However, Del Potro closed the door on a 2013 appearance, saying he had found out from the media he would not face Germany and acted accordingly.

“I found out from the media I was not playing – it is his decision,” the player insisted.

Argentine hopes now rest squarely on the shoulders of world number 12 Juan Monaco as the four-times finalists look to see off the Germans in Buenos Aires.

“The decision was not easy – but I have important goals on the circuit. I want to win more Grand Slam tournaments and be world number one,” said world number seven and former US Open champion Del Potro.

“I respect Martin Jaite and I wish him and the team all the best for the Davis Cup,” stressed the 24-year-old from Tandil.

“I can’t keep everyone happy,” he added.

Del Potro also took a swipe at his country’s tennis federation for not taking into account the players’ opinion when it came to the selection of Jaite as skipper – the pair have several times had public differences of opinion, quite apart from this latest contretemps.