Cilic Withdraws From Brisbane, Del Potro Might Follow; Australian Open In Doubt For Both?

Wow that’s a bummer for both especially del Porto since he was saying he was no longer experiencing discomfort in his wrist. Sadly it seems like he still is. Should he skip AO- here’s hoping that’s not the case- then he’ll have spent a entire year off tour injured: that’s very tough to recover from on the ever evolving tour and extremely saddening for del Porto since really post his fantastic USO 2009 win in the following 5 seasons he’s spent as much Tim off tour or trying to get his ranking up as challenging for titles like we know he can. I think injuries have sadly blighted his chance to improve his game at the natural rate and we have been robbed from seeing what a player he could have possibly been. It’s our loss for sure since Del Potro-for me- had the game and mental strength that could have seen him be on that Federer, Nadal, Djokovic level. His talent really was that good.

December 31st, 2014 at 11:20 am

On the WTA side, I believe that Laura Robson is also out of Australia.

December 31st, 2014 at 12:50 pm

cilic is best shot for that.
Delpotro 5 years since winning his slam. he never came really close again.

it took him a yearlast time tot get back. I donot think he will be back any sooner so his time is running out.

If one likes his game then Cilic is far far far better placed to do damage to top 3.

December 31st, 2014 at 1:14 pm

For my fellow Tommy Haas fans, article on him being the true tennis “iron man”: http://espn.go.com/blog/peter-bodo/post/_/id/917/surviving-the-haas-of-pain

This stat struck me: “Before he blew out his shoulder the first time, Haas was 14-7 combined against Pete Sampras, Federer, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier and Marat Safin. Sampras fared best against Haas, at 5-5.” Makes me wonder what could have been…

December 31st, 2014 at 1:26 pm

RZ,

Those are certainly some interesting stats. I’d like to know the rest of the head-to-heads as well, but the article doesn’t say.

Also: Happy New Year, everyone!

December 31st, 2014 at 1:35 pm

there’s a whole list of injured/ill tennis players here:

http://opencourt.ca/pullouts-pile-up-and-the-season-has-yet-to-begin/

gulbis and theim are out of doha; tsonga’s out of hopman as is kyrgios; monfils is not playing the abu dhabi exo.

December 31st, 2014 at 2:24 pm

@jane
Wow! Very early in the season for all these injuries and this year they’ve had a bit more time off too.

December 31st, 2014 at 2:55 pm

i know; it seems strange margot. hopefully these are just precautionary so that they’re all well for the AO.

December 31st, 2014 at 2:56 pm

Wow, this is a poor start to a new season!

January 1st, 2015 at 2:26 pm