Juan Martin del Potro hopeful of being fit for Shanghai Masters

ATP Tour
Juan Martin del Potro struggling

World No 4 Juan Martin del Potro is in a race against time to be fit for the Shanghai Masters after battling illness in the China Open final.

The Argentine lost Sunday’s final against unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili with the Georgian securing an upset 6-4, 6-4 victory.

However, Del Potro revealed after the match that he wasn’t 100%.

“I did everything that I can to be better for the final, it wasn’t enough time to feel 100 percent,” he said. “As you can see, my game today wasn’t as good as it was in the last matches in the tournament. I had some problem the last three days and it affected a little bit my game.”

“I wasn’t able to play with that fire that I have in all my matches.”

He didn’t have to set foot on the court for his semi-final as Fabio Fognini withdrew before the match due to injury, and Del Potro admitted that he thought about pulling out.

“I had some problems in the last three days. I was bad yesterday, too, but [Fabio] Fognini came before me to pull out,” he said.

“I played with these conditions. Nikoloz didn’t miss on the important moments.

He is due to face compatriot Leonardo Mayer in the first round at the Shanghai Masters.

He added: “Hopefully I can feel better for Shanghai.”

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