Juan Martin Del Potro, Maria Sharapova on injury list

Juan Martin del Potro will undergo regenerative therapy treatment on his knee, meaning he will be unable to defend his title at Indian Wells.

The Argentine fractured his kneecap in a heavy fall at the Shanghai Masters event in October 2018, and was sidelined for four months before returning at last week’s ATP tournament at Delray Beach.

NEWS: Azarenka thumps Collins in Acapulco opener

Although he advanced to the quarterfinals, Del Potro appeared hampered in a loss to Mackenzie McDonald, and confirmed that he needed more rehab on the troublesome knee.

pic.twitter.com/ddrRlllmBS

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) February 27, 2019

“Unfortunately, I will have to wait for several days before I can get back on the court and train,” Del Potro wrote on social media.

“I was really looking forward to going back (to Indian Wells) and playing in such a special place, but I have to wait two weeks to see if the treatment will be effective to allow me to play in Miami.”

Del Potro will drop 1000 points. Down to #9 at best after IW

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 27, 2019

Already missing the Miami Open will be Maria Sharapova, who says she has undergone a “small procedure” on her right shoulder that will need a few weeks to heal.

Sharapova said she’s struggled since last summer with shoulder pain caused by a fraying tendon and small labrum tear. She tried unsuccessfully to solve the problem with exercise.

“Although this has been a very long process, I am incredibly committed to getting back strong, and more importantly without the pain I was playing with at the beginning of this year,” she wrote Wednesday on Instagram.

The five-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played since pulling out of a tournament in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in late January after winning her first-round match.

She won three matches at the Australian Open – she fell in the fourth round to Ashleigh Barty – and is ranked 29th.

Also under clouds heading into the “Sunshine Swing” are Taylor Fritz, who pulled out of Acapulco with a left ankle inury, and Amanda Anisimova, who retired from the first round of the same event due to illness.

Aljaz Bedene (right leg) and Mikhail Kukushkin (right shoulder) both withdrew from the Dubai Tennis Championships.