Argentinian professional tennis player Juan Martin del Potro has been diagnosed with a right kneecap fracture, and he is not sure whether he will play again this season, reported Tennis.com.
Del Potro described the injury as "a hard blow that leaves me without strength." "It's very difficult for me to think about recovery again. I did not expect this to happen."
The world No.4 hurt his knee in the match against Borna Coric on Oct. 11 at the Shanghai Masters. He fell on the ground with his right knee near the end of the first set before losing the set 5-7 and quitting the match.
Del Potro has to quit his match against Borna Coric at the Shanghai Masters after injury. /VCG Photo
"I made a weird movement with the knee and hit the floor very hard. I felt intense pain. I didn't want any more risks," said Del Potro to the ATP.
His spokesman Jorge Viale wrote on Twitter that medical tests on Oct. 13 showed a fracture and that the doctors will "evaluate the recovery process needed to return."
The knee fracture may cost Del Potro the ATP Finals in November. /VCG Photo
Having turned 30 years old in September, Del Potro has already locked a spot at the 2018 ATP World Tour Finals that will start on Nov. 11. With less than a month for him to recover, there is a big chance for Del Potro to miss the event and say goodbye in advance to the 2018 season.
So far there are five players qualified for the singles event of the Finals: Rafael Nadal from Spain, Novak Djokovic from Serbia, Roger Federer from Switzerland, Alexander Zverev from Germany and Del Potro.