Del Potro Going For Trio of Titles In 2018

Juan Martin del Potro reached his sixth ATP World Tour final of the season on Saturday, although the Argentine would have preferred a different final step before the China Open title match in Beijing.

Watch Highlights: Delpo, Basilashvili To Meet In Beijing Final

Del Potro advanced when Italy’s Fabio Fognini withdrew before their semi-final because of ankle pain. “Of course, I wanted to play with Fabio,” Del Potro said. “I am sad for him because he is a friend… I wish him all the best.”

Del Potro, who sounded as if he had a cold, wasn’t too disappointed with the walkover, though. “For me it will be a good moment to rest because I’m not feeling 100 per cent,” he said. “But anyways tomorrow is a final and the final has to be played so I will try to do my best.”

He will go for his third title of the season against Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, who beat Brit Kyle Edmund 7-6(6), 6-4 on Saturday. Del Potro won their only prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, at the 2017 Rolex Shanghai Masters in three sets.

“[Basilashvili] already won Hamburg,” said Del Potro. “He has big potential, his game is so strong and it is going to be an interesting final.”

Del Potro is looking to build momentum before next week’s Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he reached the semi-finals last year (l. to Federer) and before he makes his return to the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 11-18 November at The O2 in London. Del Potro will make his fifth appearance at the season finale and his first since 2013.

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