NEW YORK (AP) - David Nalbandian pulled out of the U.S. Open because of an injury on Tuesday, a day before he was scheduled to play 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro in an all-Argentine matchup in the first round of singles.
Nalbandian cited a strained muscle in his chest.
In a statement issued via the U.S. Tennis Association, Nalbandian said: “I am really sorry that I cannot participate in the last Grand Slam event of the season and I hope I will be back for the Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic in September.”
He was the runner-up to Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2002, and has been a semifinalist at least once at each of the other three Grand Slam tournaments, including the U.S. Open in 2003.
Nalbandian also withdrew from the men’s doubles event at Flushing Meadows, where he was scheduled to team with another Argentine, Eduardo Schwank, in a first-round match Wednesday.
In singles, del Potro instead will face a “lucky loser” _ a player who loses in qualifying but gets into the main draw of a tournament because of a late withdrawal. Del Potro’s new opponent won’t be determined until Wednesday.
Nalbandian made headlines in June when he was disqualified for injuring a line judge during the final of a grass-court tournament in England by kicking an advertisement board.
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