There are many top players in the draw for the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel, which begins on Monday. This includes 2023 French Open runner-up Casper Ruud and Holger Rune. However. three players have elected to withdraw from the event, with one of these being particularly notable. This article names the three men to withdraw from the tournament, and also lists their three replacements in the draw. We at LWOT also have a separate article listing those to withdraw from the ATP Vienna Open, which also begins on Monday.
Three Players Withdraw From ATP Swiss Indoors
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Carlos Alcaraz is the biggest name to withdraw from the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel. The Spaniard announced that he has minor issues with his left foot and his lower back. These need to be treated to guarantee Alcaraz’s involvement at the upcoming Paris Masters and ATP World Tour Finals. It is clear that is a wise and pragmatic decision from this year’s Wimbledon champion. But it also reduces Alcaraz’s chances of regaining the world No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic before the end of the season. It remains possible, but the two-time Grand Slam champion’s results will need to be very impressive in Paris and at the Tour Finals.
Another Spaniard is the second player to withdraw from the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will also be absent in Switzerland. The 2021 French Open quarterfinalist last played nearly three weeks ago in the round-of-64 at the Shanghai Masters, losing to Arthur Fils. Davidovich Fokina has been involved in some epic matches this year, including an extraordinary five-set battle against Holger Rune at Wimbledon. His brand of tennis will be missed in Basel.
Milos Raonic is the final player to withdraw from the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel. The 2016 Wimbledon runner-up has not competed since a straight sets first-round defeat at the US Open to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Injuries have been a major issue for Raonic in recent years, and he only returned this season after a long time out with physical problems. It appears that his body has broken down again after the Canadian’s efforts during the North American hardcourt swing. It is not currently clear when Raonic will return again to the ATP Tour.
Who Replaces Those Three Players in the Draw?
Stan Wawrinka enters the player list at the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel due to Alcaraz electing to withdraw. It is very likely that the three-time Grand Slam champion would have received a wildcard into his home tournament anyway. However, Alcaraz’s withdrawal means the Swiss enters the main draw on merit. Wawrinka has successfully reinvented himself again at the age of 38, with his achievements this season including a run to the final in Umag and third-round appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open. He will face a qualifier in the first round.
Yannick Hanfmann is set to play at the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel due to Davidovich Fokina’s decision to withdraw. The Spaniard was initially set to be replaced by Aleksandar Vukic, but the Australian elected to play in Vienna instead. This provides an opportunity for Hanfmann. The German does not have a great record on hardcourts at ATP Tour main draw level, losing 17 of his 22 matches on the surface. Yet his poor record did not stop him from beating 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem in Antwerp last week. He faces two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the opening round.
Finally, Miomir Kecmanovic benefits from Raonic’s decision to withdraw from the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel. 2023 has been a mixed year overall for the Serbian, with the season not matching the heights he set in 2022. But Kecmanovic did have a good run to the semifinal in Stockholm last week. This included a victory in the first round against the No. 1 seed at the event Holger Rune, but the Dane has an immediate chance to gain revenge. Kecmanovic faces Rune in the opening round once again in Basel.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
