Del Potro withdraws from Nadal clash with a waist injury
Published:All the talk before the start of the Madrid Open tennis championships was of Rafael Nadal and, by his own admission, his tough draw.
Marcos Baghdatis was supposed to put up a fight in Nadal’s first match of the tournament but was blown away, the Cypriot winning just four games, as Nadal continues his relentless winning streak on clay.
And Nadal continues to glide through the early rounds of the Madrid Open with ease after third round opponent Juan Martin del Potro withdrew due to a waist injury.
Del Potro’s resurgence since returning from injury at the start of the year continues and after winning the Estoril Open in Portugal last week, the former US Open champion looked back to his best form and this injury has come at the wrong time.
It would’ve been an intriguing tie and one that could have had a huge bearing on the French Open odds in which Nadal is the 4/11 favourite to win his sixth French Open title.
Del Potro is currently trading at 12/1 and his recent form would suggest he offers plenty of each-way value although we’re unlikely to see the Argentine on a court until Roland Garros.
A win for the Argentine today would’ve see the French Open odds alter dramatically, instead punters will have to accept the fact that Nadal will start the French Open as a very short favourite.
With Djokovic in such ruthless form there’s still a chance Nadal will be beaten in Madrid, especially with a potential semi-final with Roger Federer, but while Djokovic is in fine form, del Potro looked the biggest danger to Nadal on clay up until today’s injury.
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