Del Potro beat Federer in the 2009 US Open final
US Open champion and world number five Juan Martin del Potro will miss at least four weeks with the wrist injury that has hampered him in recent months.
The Argentine, 21, had a recurrence of the injury at the Kooyong exhibition event before January's Australian Open.
He continued to struggle with the problem at the Grand Slam event, losing in the fourth round to Marin Cilic.
And Del Potro has now been forced to pull out of forthcoming tournaments in Marseille and Dubai.
He is also likely to be ruled out of Argentina's Davis Cup tie against Sweden on 5-7 March, with Indian Wells (11 March) or Miami (24 March) his likely comeback targets.
Del Potro suffered with tendinitis in his right wrist as far back as October, when he had to had to retire in the second round of the Shanghai Masters.
When he won the US Open last September, the Argentine became the first man other than Rafael Nadal to beat Roger Federer in the final of a Grand Slam tournament.
In recognition of that victory, Del Potro was nominated for the Laureus world breakthrough of the year award on Thursday.