Wondering why the Monte-Carlo Masters isn’t mandatory anymore?

Juan Martin del Potro is pulling out of the tournament due to wrist tendinitis. He hasn’t played since the Australian Open and he’s reportedly out of Barcelona and questionable for Rome, as well. My google translation via ElMundo:

Argentine tennis player Juan Martin del Potro will follow down with tendinitis in his right wrist and will stay away from the circuit in the coming weeks. He will miss next week’s Monte Carlo, the third Masters 1000 ATP World Tour and first of the year on clay, and the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell, next week, according to the newspaper La Nacion. ”

According to newspaper reports, the player had his wrist checked in the U.S. by specialist Richard Berger, one of the most renowned in the world in biomechanics and nerves in the hand and wrist, which revealed that he still suffers from “a small residual tendinitis.” So be aware that this year will be used to recover and settle in the elite of world tennis.

The information speculates that inactivity may extend to the tournament in Rome, which would delay del Potro’s return to the tennis to the 1000 Madrid Masters, an event which starts on 10 May and is on the eve of Roland Garros. And in this second Grand Slam, Del Potro should defend the points he got last year to reach the semifinals.

Monte-Carlo “resident” Robin Soderling is also out due to an “overstrain” in his knee. Robin via his website:

“I’ve had some problems with my knee since the Miami tournament. The pain has just escalated the more tennis I’ve played. My doctor has now examined my knee, and I’ve made a decision of not playing next week’s tournament in Monte Carlo.”

“This is very sad since Monte Carlo is my “home tournament” and one of my favorite tournaments of the year. But now awaits one week of rest and rehabilitation, and I will hopefully be back to compete in the Barcelona tournament that starts the 19th of April.”

Other top 10 stars not in attendance for various reasons: Roger Federer (“vacation”), Andy Roddick (“clay allergy”), Nikolay Davydenko (“broken wrist” – yeah, good excuse, Kolya)

Former top-tenner, Gilles Simon, was on the entry list for this tournament, but is now off tour for at least the next month and questionable for his home Slam in Paris. Via Sky Sports:

World number 26 Gilles Simon could miss the French Open after announcing he will be out for a month with a knee injury.

The 25-year-old Frenchman has suffered recurring problems with his right knee since November 2009 and has not won a single match so far this season.

Rafael Nadal, who sparked some injury rumors during his semifinal loss to Andy Roddick last week in Miami, posted a Facebook message confirming his wholehearted participation in the Monte-Carlo tournament. But his Uncle Toni confirmed in the Spanish media that Rafa indeed did have “a problem in his left knee that prevented him from playing at his highest level [vs. Roddick.]” Toni thinks the “sore knee” is “not important” going forward, though. Hmm. . .let’s wait and see how important those knees are come Roland Garros. No doubt Rafa will be working 100% to win his sixth-straight title in the Principality, but the “Nadal knee-advisory” level has just gone from yellow to orange.

As of today, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (wildcard) are still going to play.

Come on in, Roger! The water’s fine.