The Brisbane International has lost its second US Open champion in 48 hours with Juan Martin del Potro withdrawing from the year-opening tournament.
Del Potro followed world No.9 Marin Cilic (shoulder) on Thursday by pulling out of Brisbane due to a persistent left wrist injury.
The Argentine has been out of the game since undergoing surgery in March, but had targeted Brisbane as his return to the tour.
While it’s a second hit to tournament organisers losing another big-name drawcard, it has opened the door for two more Australians to gain wildcards to the men’s draw.
Brisbane baseliner John Millman and James Duckworth were on Thursday granted wildcards that had been earmarked for compatriots Marinko Matosevic and Sam Groth.
With 2014 US Open champion Cilic and del Potro withdrawing, two spots opened up in the main draw that were filled by world No.75 Matosevic and 81st-ranked Groth – their rankings gaining them automatic qualification.
The quartet take the number of Aussie men in the tournament up to seven with defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic and rising wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis already booked in.
There are three Australians in the women’s draw, headed by local hope Sam Stosur.
The withdrawal of 2009 US Open champion Del Potro also leaves him in doubt for the Australian Open while he appears unlikely to mount a defence of the preceding Sydney International which he won last year.
Argentine newspapers have reported the former world No.4 has yet to hit his double-handed backhand comfortably as his recovery has taken much longer than expected.
Millman has enjoyed first-round success in Brisbane in the past but missed his home tournament last year due to shoulder surgery which saw his ranking blow out to 1193.
But a strong comeback, including three ATP Challenger titles, led to the 25-year-old moving back to 156th in the world.
“I’m extremely excited to play the Brisbane International, which is a pretty special tournament to me being my home event,” said Millman.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and the faith that’s been shown in me after coming back from a pretty serious injury.”
Duckworth also collected two ATP Challenger titles in America last year to finish 2014 ranked at No.127.
Qualifying for the Brisbane event starts on Friday with main-draw matches kicking off on Sunday at Pat Rafter Arena.
