Del Potro not to play Davis Cup 2014

Buenos Aires, Nov 16 (IANS) Argentina’s tennis player Juan Martin del Potro, fifth place in the ATP world ranking, announced Friday that he will not play the first series of Davis Cup next January.

The Argentine player said he is tired of the “double standard and hypocrite speech” of the tennis directives and of the team’s captain Martin Jaite, reported Xinhua.

Del Potro announced his decision in a letter sent to the president of the Argentine Tennis Association (ATA) Arturo Grimaldi and to Jaite, where he criticised that he was “e-mail invited” to take part in the tournament.

“I have not answered them, first because I am focusing on the tournaments that I will play until the end of the year and I did not want to make rash decisions,” he said.

“And second, because I am tired of being e-mail invited and at the same time they are pressuring me through some press, who have speculated on my participation on Davis Cup, trying to discredit me before public opinion,” added Del Potro, 2009 US Open champion.

He also complained for not being consulted for the election of the team’s captain, the courts and the seats, such as in the 2012 series against Czech Republic.

The 25-year-old tennis player said he discussed his decision with his working group.