The ATP 500 event in Vienna begins on Monday. It promises to be a very exciting event. There are many excellent players on the entry list for the event, including 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner. However, there have also been three notable withdrawals from the ATP Vienna Open. This article lists the three players who have elected to withdraw, and also their three replacements. We at LWOT have a separate article listing those to withdraw from the ATP Basel Open, which also starts on Monday.
Three Players Withdraw From ATP Vienna Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Borna Coric is the first player to withdraw from the ATP Vienna Open. Last year’s Cincinnati Masters champion has not played since a first-round loss at the US Open to Sebastian Baez. Coric reached the semifinal last year in Vienna, and will be disappointed to miss the event. No official reason has been given for Coric’s continued absence from the ATP Tour. It is currently unclear whether the Croat will return to tennis before the end of the season.
Matteo Berrettini is the second player to withdraw from the ATP Vienna Open. The Italian’s last appearance was also at the US Open. Berrettini suffered a serious ankle injury at Flushing Meadows during his second-round match against Arthur Rinderknech. The 2021 Wimbledon runner-up missed the entire Asian swing with an initial goal to return for the European indoor hardcourt season. However, that has not proved to be possible, and it is not known whether he will return in 2023.
Pablo Carreno Busta is the final player to withdraw from the ATP Vienna Open. It has been an injury-plagued season for last year’s Masters 1000 champion in Montreal. The Spaniard’s last appearance at a main draw ATP event was in Rotterdam, where he lost in three sets to French Tennis stalwart Richard Gasquet. Carreno Busta did return this month at the Challenger Tour events in Malaga and Alicante, but feels it is too soon to return to an ATP 500 tournament.
Who Replaces Those Three Players in the Draw?
Matteo Arnaldi is set to compete at the ATP Vienna Open after Coric’s decision to withdraw. 2023 has been the best season of the Italian’s career. The most notable achievement was at the US Open, where he reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. This came after the momentum Arnaldi built from winning three titles on the Challenger Tour this season. He will face a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent from the qualifying draw in the opening round.
Daniel Altmaier replaces the withdrawn Berrettini at the ATP Vienna Open. The German is another player enjoying a successful season. He currently sits just one place below his career-high ranking of no.47, which was also achieved this year. Altmaier possesses a graceful and elegant one-handed backhand that the fans in Vienna are sure to enjoy. However, he faces the difficult task of playing Stockholm finalist Gael Monfils in the first round.
Carreno Busta electing to withdraw has provided an opportunity for Aleksandar Vukic. The 27-year-old is another man whose season has been one of progress. He reached a career-high of world no.48 in August and currently sits just six places below that ranking. The Australian will hope for a good run in Vienna to give himself the best possible chance of re-entering the Top 50 before the season ends. Vukic will also play a yet-to-be-confirmed qualifier in round 1.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
