By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, February 2, 2016

After three surgeries to his left wrist, and just fourteen matches in two years, Juan Martin del Potro has announced that he’ll make his long awaited return to the ATP Tour in February at Delray Beach. The 27-year-old former U.S. Open champion has been out of action since last year’s Miami Open. He needed a total of three surgeries on his left wrist, and has also had one on his right wrist, several years ago.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time,” Del Potro said in the YouTube video he posted.

But he adds cautiously: “Please be patient as it’s just my first tournament and coming back to the tour is also a part of the rehab process.”

Del Potro’s news comes as a shot in the arm to an ATP Tour that is reeling with the announcement that Roger Federer will miss February due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Del Potro owns 314 tour-level wins and 18 titles. He currently holds a ranking of 1041.