(CNN) -- Juan Martin Del Potro has confirmed that he will not defend his U.S. Open title in New York, following women's No. 1 Serena Williams in withdrawing from the final tennis Grand Slam of the season.
The Argentine has been sidelined since January, when he lost in the last 16 of the Australian Open, and needed wrist surgery in May.
The 21-year-old won his first Grand Slam title when he beat Roger Federer in an epic five-set final last September, but on Saturday ended any lingering hopes that he would be in the field when the New York tournament begins on August 30.
"I feel extremely sad to announce that I will not to be able to defend my US Open title," the towering 6ft 6in player said in a statement on the U.S. Tennis Association website. CNN
