Bad luck for Juan Martin del Potro: The US Open finalist had to give up against Borna Coric in the Shanghai Round of 16 because of a knee injury.
The Argentinian, who placed third in the $9.1 million 1000 Masters, was unlucky when he slipped after a change of direction in the tenth game of the first set and fell unluckily on his kneecap. Del Potro had tried to get a stop ball from the Croat.
After the conceded break to 5:6, the 30-year-old took a medical timeout and had his right knee bandaged thickly. Although “Delpo” returned to the Centre Court once again, his handicap did not allow any serious resistance. Coric kept his service to zero and won the first run after 68 minutes with 7:5.
Already at the first set ball, which the crowd’s favourite del Potro didn’t really hit anymore, it was clear what would follow. The 2009 New York winner, who lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) in the Beijing final last Sunday, gave up early. “The Tower of Tandil has already qualified for the ATP final in London in November.
21-year-old Coric will face the unseeded Australian Matthew Ebden in the quarter-finals, who left Peter Gojowczyk (Munich) barely a chance at 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday.
Overview of the Shanghai Tableau