Juan Martin del Potro in doubt for ASB Classic

Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro celebrates defeating Croatia's Marin Cilic in their Davis Cup finals tennis singles match. Photo / AP

Argentine tennis star Juan Martin del Potro looks in doubt for the ASB Classic in Auckland next month.

Del Potro says he might have to skip the Australian Open due to injury. That means he would certainly miss the Auckland event which begins the week before the first grand slam event of the year'.

"If I'm being smart, I know that I have 15 days of practice left for Australia and for my first tournament [ASB Classic], and that's a goal I'm not going to make," del Potro said.

Del Potro said that in addition to taking a pass on the Australian Open, which starts on January 16, he may also have to look at whether to play the ATP event in Delray Beach, Florida, in late February.

Last month, del Potro helped lead Argentina's Davis Cup squad to its first championship in tennis' premier international teams event.

A former world No. 4, del Potro's ranking stands at No. 38 due to his many wrist injuries and operations.

"Tennis waited for me for two years and it can wait one more Australian Open for me," he said.

"But I also know that it's an important tournament and that if you do well, you can really move up in the rankings and be set for the rest of the season. I'm in a tough situation."

- AAP