The season-ending, ATP Tour Finals of 2017 were hit by injuries to three of the game’s star players and, with news of Juan Martin Del Potro’s potential absence, it seems we may be in for another subdued tournament this year.
Welcome Return
Novak Djokovic was one of the players to sit out the ATP Tour Finals in 2017 but, after a successful return to the courts, the Serb is already favourite to win the first Grand Slam of 2019 in bet365’s early tennis betting markets. Those markets may be active for next year’s Australian Open, but with the line up for London in November being far from certain, the ATP Tour betting is yet to open.
Along with Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray were also forced onto the sidelines and Del Potro’s news marks an early blow for the tournament organisers.
Race Against Time
Juan Martin Del Potro’s official withdrawal from the ATP Tour Finals is yet to be confirmed but having fractured his kneecap in four places in Shanghai at the weekend, the prognosis must be grim. This is the latest in a catalogue of injuries suffered by the 30 year old since winning his first Grand Slam and the player himself admitted that his season looked to be over.
At the very best, Del Potro faces a race against time to be fit for the season-ending event but assuming, as seems probable, he misses out, just who is in the frame to take part?
Big Three On Course
Andy Murray has yet to make any impact on the World Rankings since making his own, tentative return from injury but the remaining members of the ‘Big Four’ are all on course. Rafael Nadal started October as the World Number One, followed by Djokovic and Roger Federer who will all be eyeing ATP Tour Finals success.
Del Potro is the current world number four and his absence would allow ninth-ranked Grigor Dimitrov to step up. In between those names we then have Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev making up our London octet.
Stresses and Strains
Aside from Del Potro’s issues, there are no confirmed injuries for the ATP Tour Finals but there are wider concerns over the increased stresses and strains placed on individual players. There is little in the way of rest during a packed calendar and injuries as a whole are on the increase.
Over on the WTA Tour, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Lucie Safarova and Yanina Wickmayer have all been forced to bring an early end to their 2018 campaigns. To date, the men’s game has been largely unaffected but, in order to maximise public interest in their event, the organisers of the ATP Tour Finals will be hoping that Juan Martin Del Potro’s news isn’t a prelude to a set of big-name withdrawals for the second year in succession.
