Maximilian Marterer will certainly be in the main field of the ATP-500 event in Basel. The German is benefiting from the injury-related cancellation of Juan Martín del Potro.
For the fans in Basel it is a sad certainty, Maximilian Marterer can at least be a little happy about it: Juan Martín del Potro has officially cancelled his start in Basel after his kneecap fracture, according to all expectations.
What does “Maxi” Marterer have to do with this? The world rankings-67th may see himself as a lucky reservist. The German will slip into the starting field due to “Delpos” cancellation and does not have to play his way through the qualification.
Del Potro, who reached last year’s final in Basel, slipped to his right knee in the round of 16 against Borna Coric at the Masters in Shanghai. Only a few hours later the devastating diagnosis for the suffering Argentinian was made: fracture of the kneecap. Season off and missing the ATP finals included.
The tournament officials in Basel planned to cancel the tournament after the news of del Potro’s injury, but the official confirmation of the world ranking fourth was still pending.
It will be Marterer’s first appearance at the 500cc event in Switzerland. The starting field in the capital will traditionally be filled with stars. Local hero and record winner Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic are three top 10 players at the start.
With two top-class NextGen stars named Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov, the Basel Festival could experience a renaissance. Since 2006, Roger Federer (8), del Potro (2), Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic have shared the trophy with one tournament victory each. All of them long-term representatives at the top of the world – a victory of an “underdog” would be a novelty in Basel.